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Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Chapter 1

2016-06-07T20:51:10Z

Armando99: /* Part 1 */

==Chapter 1==
===Part 1===

<Demon King Typhon>.

Five years ago, it was the name of the demon that crossed over the dimensional boundary and came attacking the earth.

The length of its body was five kilometers. It was a giant multi-headed dragon with a size that rivaled a small island.

During the time since humans began fighting demons approximately a century ago, this first observed <Demon King class> demon had burned the earth’s surface to ash from one end to the other in only ten days.

This event was the calamity that was called <Walpurgis Night>.

That calamity reduced the human population of the the world till only 10 percent remained. The countries too were destroyed until there were only ten countries remaining.

But even while that much damage was inflicted, the human race wasn’t ruined.

The surviving people joined together and formed the <United World Government>.

<United World Government> took the lead and concentrated on reviving urban areas all over the world and maintained the [life sphere]. By restoring the infrastructures, the human race had recovered civilization that wasn’t different from before albeit the scale had become smaller. This was accomplished only five years after the <Walpurgis Night>.

The [Tokyo life sphere] that was formerly Tokyo city was also one of those.

Right now in this place, around 70 million humans from a great variety of races, gathered from all over the world to live their life close to each other.

However, that restoration was something that stood on thin ice.

After the extermination of <Demon King Typhon>, the number of demons that came invading from the demon world didn’t decrease.

No, rather, the passing of demons possessing vast power like Typhon caused the dimensional wall boundary to crumble. It can be said that the number of demons that came invading from the demon world to the human world increased.

The interior of the [life sphere] was protected by a barrier so the demons couldn’t directly come in; however, it was not strange for demons that appeared outside the [life sphere] to sometimes approach for an invasion. This was the current world’s situation.

Today just like other days, invaders passing through the dimension wall are instantly coming into this world.

But there exist a fighting strength that didn’t hesitate in taking on those demons, possessing terrifying power, as opponents.

Equipping the magic wand <{{furigana|Arms|Sorcery Armament}}> and magic shield <{{furigana|Magi’s Jacket|Magic Costume}}> that were created from the combination of science and sorcery, they were the human magicians that could manipulate sorcery similar to the demons.

===Part 2===

“Stop making useless resistance. If you do that then I will kill you painlessly.”

The Tokyo life sphere’s bay coast area, the abandoned harbor warehouse.

At the wharf where no sounds could be heard except the splashing sounds of the waves when it turned into night, there was the commanding voice of a girl ringing out.

The owner of the voice stood on the wharf, a student magician in the <Gunner> style whose body was wrapped in a Magi’s jacket based on a cowgirl’s outfit.

While her blond hair that released faint light like gold dust was fluttering from the sea breeze, the girl was taking a stance with her <Gunner> style’s <Arms> that was a silver revolver.

The <{{furigana|leader|commanding officer}}> of New Tokyo Sorcery Academy’s 101st trainee platoon, Hoshikawa Sumika.

The girl right now was facing a single grotesque thing.

That grotesque thing was something that was around three times bigger than Sumika, a giant with a human body that had a head of a pig.

<Soldier class> demon, orc.

This orc was the vanguard of the invaders from another dimension that the human race had continued to fight from one hundred years ago.

As a demon it was not categorized as strong.

It couldn’t even use any particular sorcery, what it could do only amounted to swinging around the giant club that it held in its right hand.

―At best, its threat level was something like [an African elephant that held ill will towards humans].

Even for someone who was still a student, for a magician that had piled up training to defeat demons, this orc was an opponent that could be dealt with easily. That was exactly why, the girl―Sumika didn’t fear that monster for even a bit.

“I’ll say it one more time. Stop making useless resistance.” <ref>This girl Sumika is always talking in polite language. Even against this demon.</ref>

She announced her last warning.

She put strength on the finger that was holding the trigger of the revolver-style <Arms> that had its aim directed on the forehead of the orc.

If the girl put just a little more strength into her finger, a {{furigana|mythril|fake silver}} bullet coated in magic power would pierce the demon’s forehead from the gun muzzle.

If it was only something like a <Soldier class> than just a single attack would certainly result in death.

Furthermore, using necromancy, a magician could bind a contract with the soul of a hero and through that they borrowed the hero’s power.

Sumika’s contracted hero was the <Gun Saint> Billy the Kid.

The bullet of <Gun Saint> couldn’t miss. It would end if she shot. The orc would be killed if she pulled the trigger. But―

{Gufufufu-…! Bluff, useless. You, can’t shoot.}

The orc laughed with an unpleasant voice that was similar with the sound of burbling mud.

“-…!”

Sumika’s expression distorted from those words. After all, what the orc said was right on the mark.

Sumika couldn’t shoot. The reason was located in the orc’s left hand.

There was a girl with a mini-ponytail clutched in the orc’s left arm with her face turning pale.

The girl was the same with Sumika, the 101st’s <{{furigana|Striker|close range combatant}}>. Her name was Ichinotani Chikori.

That’s right, in other words, this was a hostage situation.

As a demon, the orcs were a weak race, but in place of that it was using its intelligence.

In reality, the one that was cornered was Sumika.

{Weapon, throw away. If not, this girl, crushed.}

Pressed with choices, Sumika gritted her teeth.

(Just against an orc, to be treated as it pleased like this…!)

For Sumika, this situation was a humiliation.

If asked why, it was because while Sumika was still a student, she was a genius magician that obtained the title of S-rank magician where there were only ten people in this world. Originally, just an orc or even ten orcs, she was an existence that could easily defeat them. ―The fact was, a few minutes before, this Sumika had instantly killed two orcs that were invading into the life sphere from a different place.

But, a trouble appeared when the third orc came invading.

The predicted place where the third orc would appear was in the side of the residential area, so beforehand Sumika made two of the 101st platoon members that were her subordinates to standby there, but―of all the things to happen, the moment the orc appeared one of the members got terrified of real battle and deserted the battle before the enemy’s presence. No, if it was only that then it was still fine, but―

{If it’s just around three minutes before leader comes, then even I alone can hold back this enemy!}

Like that, Chikori who couldn’t be expected as a battle strength just by her lonesome didn’t even hear her command to stop and rushed to the enemy by her own judgment.

And the result,

{Leader. Chikori-san was captured by the orc.}

Only three seconds after that, that kind of transmission came from the <{{furigana|Operator|Battle Controller}}> that was in charge of battle situation and <{{furigana|Idea Link|Sorcery Transmission}}> from the place slightly separated from the actual scene.

(She cannot do it at all aren’t she―!)

As expected, she wanted to cry.

And then, right now, under that situation she got cornered and that was why it was unbearable.

{Quick, weapon! Throw away!!}

“Leader! Don’t mind me! I’m wrong for ignoring the order-!”

She wanted to shout angrily that it’s exactly your fault, but right now it was no use even if she blamed the girl.

As a leader, as a magician, to do something like abandoning a human who was going to be killed by a demon right now was not something Sumika could do.

Right now she needed to continue this deadlocked situation for even a little longer, buy time, and wait until reinforcements arrived.

―But, that sneaky consideration was read by the orc.

{Do it quick!}

In order to hurry Sumika who was trying to buy time, the vein of the orc’s arm protruded out and its herculean strength constricted Chikori’s thin body like a vise.

“UAAAAA…-!”

“St, stop it-!”

Sumika reflexively raised her voice hearing the creaking sound that was like the crack of a decayed tree.

Chikori who was grasped in the orc’s left hand turned limp and became unmoving.

It would be really bad if more than that happened. She couldn’t buy time unskillfully. There was nothing that she could do except obeying obediently.

“Understood. I surrender…”

Sumika threw away the revolver in her hand and also one more revolver that was holstered on her hips,

“-―――!”

That instant, a shock ran through Sumika’s brain that informed her of danger to herself.

That was the intuition that came from the girl’s contracted heroic spirit, <Gun Saint> Billy the Kid’s Hero Skill.

What is called Hero Skill was the obtained special move or something like enchantment that came from being possessed by the soul of a hero.

From this, a magician became able to wield power that was equal with heroes of previous life.

And then the danger signal that ran through Sumika’s brain at this time was <Gun Saint>’s Hero Skill <{{furigana|Back Sniper|Instinct Evasion}}>.

With this Hero Skill that was associated with Billy the Kid’s legend that said that he shot to death enemies behind him without even turning back, its effect was [perfect invalidation of blind spot]. The contractor of <Gun Saint> became able to detect all dangers of attack that came from blind spots with 100% accuracy using instinct. And then, this instinct was by no means inaccurate―

“{{furigana|Protection|Barrier Expand}}!”

Sumika immediately expanded a no element first grade magic barrier using sorcery.

Thereupon in a flash that barrier was hit by the orc’s club.

That one hit possessed the brute strength of several tons’ weight, but the expanded magic barrier that was for use pertaining to physical impact didn’t even twitch.

It was exactly like her instinct told her.

Sumika safely evaded the surprise attack completely.

For her it was something really easy. But―

{Don’t defend! Next, if defend, this girl, crush!}

“Kuh-“

When there was a hostage even that couldn’t be kept up.

{You, kill comrade! Not forgive. Pulverize. Pulverize until became mince meat!}

The orc once again swung its club.

If she evaded this next attack the orc would unhesitatingly crush Chikori.

She couldn’t evade.

If it became like this then she could only become a sandbag while reducing the damage as much as she could using magic power.

For Sumika that was a bitter choice.

(Even though I cannot die in this kind of place…!)

Sumika had a dream. An important, strong wish that could even be called a craving.

Five years ago, the giant seven headed dragon that burned to ash everything in the world. <Demon King Typhon>.

That day, where everyone could do nothing except looking up to the closed sky, sinking into despair in front of the overwhelming power.

―There was someone, who killed that dragon.

That Typhon, who bore not even a single injury even with all the militaries of all the world’s countries challenging that monster …there was a magician who killed that monster just by his lonesome.

That day, Sumika watched up from the burning ground the full story of what happened.

And then, she thought. That she wanted to become like that.

Like that, she wanted to become an existence that could save people from no matter what kind of despair.

―That dream, was still not fulfilled.

She was still half-way.

(That’s why, even though I cannot die in this kind of place, why does this kind of thing happen!)

While gritting her teeth in frustration, Sumika wrapped her body in magic power.

For the sake of softening the blow for even a little.

She was waiting for reinforcements while receiving the orc’s blow.

Having no option other than that, she could only brace herself by all possible means.

The club that was swung down cutting wind.

Against the approaching strong blow, Sumika resolved herself and closed her eyelids.

“Sheesh. Can the apprentices these days not deal with just a single orc.”

She heard that voice.

“Eh…”

Instantly, a blast resounded in the wharf.

It was the sound of a severe shockwave hitting and breaking the concrete surface.

But that was not the sound of destruction of a blow that was produced by a club.

The one who broke apart the concrete was, a lone young man.

Jumping down from a passenger plane that was flying in the far above sky at the height of ten thousand meters, the young man that split apart into two the orc’s body from its head until its crotch using an obsidian sword, was the one making the sound of the broken concrete and landing.

The orc’s body was torn vertically, split into left and right.

Of course, it died instantly.

The hostage spilled out from the arm, that orc’s body changed into shining ashes in a rustle and scattered apart from the sea breeze.

Inside that prism, the young man said.

“But, I’ll give you a passing mark for not abandoning the hostage.”

A loose and disheveled, uncontrollable black hair.

The end of a long stole flapped like a wing, the young man looked down on Sumika with a listless eye. A look that didn’t seem far from Sumika in age.

Looking at that face, Sumika gulped her breath.
[[File:Ultimate Antihero V1 c11.png|thumb]]
“Yo, you, are……!”

It was only natural. For magicians that lived in this age, there was no human that didn’t know that young man’s face.

The grand magician that mastered all the sorcery that existed in this world, the human that employed the existences that were far more powerful and even far more evil than even the [Demon King], the <Evil God> like one would use a familiar, the <Evil God User>.

And then, on the <Walpurgis Night> five years ago, possessing the overwhelming power that subdued even god, the hero of salvation that just alone subjugated <Demon King Typhon> who burned 90% of the earth surface―

“Kamishiro, Homura……!”

“Yeah, that Homura-san. As for today I got assigned to 101st platoon. Well, take care of me okay.”

Why did the hero that saved the world get assigned to a mere trainee student platoon―

Even such an obvious question didn’t cross the head of the current Sumika.

Homura who stood still inside the shining wind with his long stole flapping.

That standing figure was powerful, beautiful, in that one moment Sumika even forgot all words and became entranced.

It was as if time itself had come to a complete stop.

And then, during the instant where everything stood still, Sumika obtained a single conviction somewhere inside her heart.

This time, this moment, ―a tale was beginning, that was what she believed.

===Part 3===

Let’s rewind time back a little.

The <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura was living in the slums of London life sphere until yesterday.

A shabby, run-down apartment that had wind blowing in from the gaps.

The place was really wretched for the residence of a hero savior.

But, there was a reason for that.

He, who alone exterminated <Demon King Typhon> that even the gathering of the battle strength throughout the world couldn’t even scratch, was ostracized by the <United World Government> due to that too extreme strength.

Well, that could also be said as natural.

Establishing vested interests for themselves using all kinds of methods.

A ruling structure for the sake of exploiting the people.

If there was a human that existed that could possibly blow away all that they built right from its root, there was no way it would be something pleasant for them.

It felt like a swelling above your eye.

That was why the <United World Government> made use of all kinds of methods and tailored the <hero> into the <traitor>.

―Homura could become that strong because he sold his soul to demons.

―Sooner or later, Homura would become the demons’ pawn and bare his fangs at the human race.

Such things were whispered to the people as if they were true.

And then there was also the cooperation of the <Holy Path Church> that was ruling over the populace the most right now, making the propaganda a great success. The human race that survived the <Walpurgis Night> feared the hero that saved them as a [traitor], the messenger of demons, they rejected him from human society. ―His nationality was taken away from him, his power was taken away by <{{furigana|Aureole|Great Seal}}> that was performed on him, all his rights as a human were stripped off.

There was no way such a Homura could live in a proper place.

But, Homura didn’t dislike that life as much as one would believe.

In the first place he didn’t have any interest in social status, for his lifestyle of [killing as many demons as possible] too, a position where he wasn’t tied by the stupid rules of human society or country borders was convenient.

Everyday he passed his time however he pleased without worrying about anyone’s eyes. Occasionally, he hunted demons that threatened the life sphere and received bounty from the world government as his daily earnings.

Due to <Aureole> that sealed his power, the <United World Government> publicized to the domestic and foreign that the [traitor] had been tamed as their [watch dog]. Homura himself was understanding of the existence of such a system, but for Homura it was only something trivial that only provoked a little sympathy from him thinking [Keeping up honor is also pretty troublesome huh―].

He freely killed demons as he pleased, and protected what he wanted to protect.

He was not adhering to anything, it was a pleasant life that was quietly and comfortably free from worldly cares.

But, on a certain day where he was spending such easygoing days.

The currently nonexistent <Knight Order Without Borders> that Homura was once a member of, it was a group that didn’t question one’s country, country border, or faith, a mercenary organization with mission to protect the people of all countries from the threat of sorcery and demons, the ex-leader of such an organization contacted Homura.

The contents of the contact was extremely strange.

[I registered your name into the 101st trainee platoon of the New Tokyo Sorcery Academy. Come to Tokyo life sphere right now.]

That was what he said.

He wondered whether he should just slam the phone off. He would be troubled if he was just called carefreely from the other side of the earth only to ask him to go drink.

―But, what was truly annoying, that former superior of his that was right now the board chairman of New Tokyo Sorcery Academy, Onjouji Kai was not someone that would contact Homura without any reason.

Generally there were two patterns of situations when this man contacted Homura.

There was a human that was about to die, or the world that was about to die.

That kind of evil omen really resembled the trumpet of the Apocalypse.

And then there he would without doubt get entangled with the existence of a powerful demon.

The demons, were enemies that he had to kill.

That was why Homura decided to go to Japan even reluctantly.

In a certain meaning, that was also Homura trusting this man Onjouji, perhaps.

And then, the time returned to now.

Homura who dynamically entered the New Tokyo life sphere illegally from the height of 10000 meters, was now sitting on the sofa in the New Tokyo Sorcery Academy’s board chairman’s room with his legs outstretched while waiting for the arrival of his ex-superior that called himself here.

Before long, the double doors of the room were pushed open and a tall and lean statured gloomy man entered the room.

“It has been five years, my friend.”

The heavy and gloomy tone really suited the external appearance of the man―Onjouji Kai.

But, there was an intimacy in that voice.

“How was it? Was the air travel enjoyable?”

“Just whose mouth is saying that kind of thing.”

“You didn’t like it? Even though I have prepared the first class for you expressly.”

“Certainly the food was delicious. The seat was also so comfortable it couldn’t compare with the bed of my ragged apartment. But you know, do you think suddenly getting a call saying [my student is in danger so help them] and made to jump down from 10000 meters is something fun?”

Homura glared in protest. But Onjouji didn’t seem like he would apologize.

“Fufu. Regarding that you really helped me. That Ichinotani girl was also completely healed by your healing sorcery. Let me say my thanks once more.”

“…Well, it’s fine. After all, thanks to that those gays from London also got shaken off me. Really, when those guys turn up, they are gonna chase my ass even until the inside of the plane. Scary country.”

“Unfortunately they are not shaken off yet. If it’s those MI6 bunch then there are also some in Japan.”

“You serious?”

“Coincidentally CIA and KGB, the Inquisition agents of the <Holy Path Church>, on top of that the military satellites that float in the sky are also observing you. Of course {{furigana|Japan|we}} too.”

“Just how much are you guys engrossed in me.”

“It can’t be helped. After all, you are a human that truly merited all that.”

Homura heaved a deep sigh in resignation.

A human that merited all that.

It was a fact that even Homura himself was self-aware.

“However, …five years already. Thinking back again, since you were gone the time had already passed that long. That child has grown really big now.”

“Not having awareness of time is the proof of old age yeah.”

“Your lack of love is just as usual.”

“I didn’t happen to have any love on hand for a geezer as my company.”

After saying that bluntly, Homura corrected his seating posture a little.

And then he inquired Onjouji with a serious expression.

The question was of course, the reason why he was called here.

“Putting aside the useless talk, let’s move on to the main topic. What in the world is your reason for calling me here?”

“What I want to request from you is just as I said. I want you to enroll into this academy and look after the 101st platoon. The document of the members’ details should have reached your place too―”

“Stop the joke.”

Homura scornfully laughed from Onjouji’s answer.

“Even I know just how risky it is politically to make contact with me. You are also not someone that is going to brave that kind of risk just for something like having me protect some trainee. Entering the 101st is just the front. The real reason is something else. Isn’t that right?”

“Actually that’s a correct assessment.”

“Then talk quickly. What is happening? What kind of trouble are you going to make me shoulder that you called me here?”

But, Onjouji slowly shook his head left and right in rejection towards Homura’s hurrying.

“I can’t say it right now.”

“Why?”

“It’s not my role to talk about this. In the near future the story will come from the person who should actually talk about this.”

“So you are just the go-between, and the one that called me is another person then?”

“It’s like that.”

“Who is the person?”

“I can’t say it right now.”

Onjouji repeated the same sentence once more and lowered his eyes.

Homura who knew him from a long time ago understood.

It was impossible to drag out the circumstance from Onjouji with his attitude like this.

“Chih-. I got it already. I’m not gonna ask. But the talk is really going to happen in the near future right?”

“I’ll promise that.”

“…Then, maybe I should waste my time strolling around for awhile in the hometown that I hadn’t seen for five years.”

“Wait. That’s going to become trouble.”

“Trouble?”

“You laughed at the front that I prepared but, I really wished for you to seriously train the 101st. I want you to do me the favor of looking after those girls for this one year until their graduation.”

But Homura amazedly shook his head hearing those words of Onjouji.

“That’s a joke ain’t it. Just why I gotta look after some trainee this late…”

In a certain meaning it was a natural reaction.

Homura was a magician that possessed power to the degree of saving the world once.

The person who pushed around the <Evil God> and even mastered all the existing thousand sorcery, the <{{furigana|Master Therion|Wisdom of Thousand}}>.

For that kind of person to mingle with trainee magicians and did [practice make-believe], that was really something ridiculous.

But, Onjouji just threw a single sentence towards that unamused Homura.

“This is something that none other but you yourself said. [Take responsibility] you said.”

Hearing those words, Homura’s eyebrow moved a little.

“You have the duty to take responsibility and watch over the [girl]’s future. Am I wrong?”

“……You still remember an old story like that huh.”

“Even if memories grow dull, but a promise won’t fade. You too should be the same. That’s why even with <The Knight Order Without Borders> dissolved, you still continue to fight alone like this.”

“………”

Homura reclined his body even deeper into the sofa and gave a long sigh.

What a really old story.

It was a happening far older than even Homura being bathed in the world’s attention as the <Evil God User>.

It was a really really old promise, that even the person he made that promise to had gone already, just a single promise…

But, just as Onjouji said, no matter how old it was and even with the person he made that promise to gone already, that promise still existed, inside Homura.

That’s why―

“…I’ve never gone to school or anything before so I don’t know what I gotta do y’know?”

“I don’t plan to tell you to be some kind of teacher. Just become support as one of the platoon members of the 101st, that’s all. The platoon has difficulties communicating with the surroundings and it didn’t produce good results, so it is ridiculed as the [baggage platoon], but the girls of the 101st have a bright future. Someday they will become a support to this world for sure.”

Homura didn’t show any signs of affirmation or denial hearing those words of Onjouji.

But in regards to the responsibility that he shouldered, Homura gave his answer back properly.

“…Got it already. It’s also not bad to just laze around at the place where the light shines after a long time.”

“I owe you.”

At that time, the door of the board chairman’s room opened quietly.

Feeling a nostalgic scent from the slight wind that flowed into the room, Homura directed his gaze towards the entrance.

Over there was a tall girl standing with a stance so beautiful that it made one wonder whether there was a wire going through that straight back.

Captivating black hair that grew out until her hips.

Her face that didn’t hide her intelligence really suited her adult looks.

And then Homura knew the face of that girl.

The last time he saw her face was five years ago, but he didn’t overlook the vestiges of the past in her face now.

“…Yo. You have become an adult, Shiori.”

The girl’s name was Onjouji Shiori.

The <operator> of the 101st platoon.

She was also the daughter of Onjouji Kai, and she also knew of Homura, an old acquaintance of his.

===Part 4===

After Shiori glanced at Homura, who was talking to her with unconcerned eyes, she returned some words back with a voice that had little intonation similar to her father.

“You flatter me. You too have become a really handsome man haven’t you?”

“Hah-. Stop it with the flattery.”

“Even after five years you are still ugly as usual aren’t you?”

“So it was really just a flattery…”

“Well, but it really has been so long. You look healthy that it made me feel sick.”

While spouting poisonous words like that, Shiori briskly approached near until the table between Homura and Onjouji.

And then she was going to sit besides Onjouji, however she soon seemed like rethinking back and moved her legs towards Homura’s direction.

“Fuh-“

She took a seat besides Homura. And then after taking a single breath, she plopped her head leaning on Homura’s shoulder.

A floral scent of shampoo gently tickled Homura’s nose.
[[File:Ultimate Antihero V1 c12.png|thumb]]
“What? So even though you abused me with hateful words, but the truth is you actually loved me?”

While saying so Homura circled his hand on Shiori’s shoulder.

But that hand was *pachin!* struck down.

That hit was also done without holding back, he felt the numbness until his bone.

“…What. Shiori, you didn’t love me?”

“Such thing is even more impossible than the sun rising from the west.”

(It’s on cataclysmic level you said…!)

“Then why are you clinging this close to me?”
f
“Because I like your scent.”

“Even if you praise my body odor, I’m troubled how to reply to that.”

Homura twisted his body uncomfortably, but Shiori didn’t pay it any mind and brought her cheek closer to Homura’s shoulder.

Onjouji asked a question towards that daughter.

“Shiori. Why did you come here? I should have told you to wait at the platoon room of the 101st.”

“It can’t be helped don’t you think? Leader and Nakajima-kun are quarreling in the platoon room so annoyingly.”

Homura picked out the name Nakajima from the 101st’s data that he had a read of before this.

It was the name of the only male in 101st, the male that today abandoned Chikori alone and ran away.

“Well, as a leader surely she is going to complain of something like that.”

Because of that one’s action, Sumika almost died, so it was only natural to complain.

“There is also that but, it’s also because Nakajima-kun suddenly said that he is going to get out from the platoon. …He said that he already got the permission from Otou-san, but I wonder if that’s true?” <ref>Otou-san = father</ref>

“It’s true. He was headhunted by a different platoon and moved into the 67th trainee platoon. In exchange there is a plan to enter Homura as the replacement, but… Although they are still trainees, but a talk about fellow magicians quarreling with each other is not really good. Homura. My bad but take a look at the situation. No matter what you also have to show your face officially to them after all. You should take this opportunity while you’re at it.”

“…geez, I get it.”

Homura replied and stood up.

He was not enthusiastic to stick out his neck into other people’s quarrel, but it had been decided already that he was going to look after the 101st. It was looking for trouble but, Homura was not an obstinate person that was going to look for every single trivial reason just for an excuse not to do what he had decided to do already.

“Shiori. Show me the way to the 101st’s waiting room. You know the way right?”

“It can’t be helped.”

When he asked her, Shiori stood up without even showing him any reluctant attitude.

And then she exited the board chairman’s room together with Homura.

“This way.”

Saying that, Shiori took Homura’s arm as if embracing it.

“Are you a ghost that resides inside my hand or something?”

“I like this hand you know. After all, this is the first scent that I know that makes me feel safe.”

“…Oh yeah?”

“What? You don’t like it?”

“No. This makes us a picture of a handsome man and a beautiful girl couple, ain’t that great?”

While making that kind of frivolous talk Homura matched his pace with Shiori’s steps and walked for a while.

Homura asked her something that weighed on his mind.

“Speaking of it, before I came here I took a look at the 101st’s data, but you are [Rank D] it said? Your results are also full of red marks all over the paper, you really are making light of this. Is there any reason that you don’t want to get serious?”

The strength of a magician was assessed in 6 levels from S to E, but among those ranks, rank D was quite a poor student. One could agree even if a magician of that rank was entered into the <baggage platoon>.

But Homura knew about Shiori’s true power.

The girl’s power was not something to be sorted into a degree of rank D. That was why he was feeling doubtful.

In response, Shiori gave a curt answer.

“I don’t have any interest in going along with children playing soldier.”

“Are you at the age that thinks getting worked up in a marathon and trying to win is uncool?”

“Isn’t it fine? Even if my results are bad, it’s not like I troubled anyone. Besides I did the minimum duty in my work as an Operator that no one can be dissatisfied with. There is no reason for anyone to complain to me.”

“What a girl that is not cute at all.”

“I’m happy to hear that from you.”

―Was that the way of talking of someone that was hugging his arm?

(In the past she was a girl that was a little bit easier to understand though.)

‘She is really rebellious now’, Homura heaved a deep sigh inside his mind.

Against that Homura,

“Now that you mentioned it, I too have one thing that I want to ask you.”

This time the question came from Shiori.

“Hey Homura. Why did you come to Japan after all this time?”

“No idea. Ask your father. And then after that teach me why.”

“…So you really returned here without knowing anything. Otou-san being your superior is already something from a long time ago right? Even though the <Knight Order Without Borders> has already been dissolved a long time ago, why are you still following his orders? Are you gay?”

Absolutely not.

“That’s because he is a man that can be trusted in a bad meaning. Ain’t like I can even ignore him. …Rather, why are you that concerned? This doesn’t have any relation to Shiori right?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s just, makes me concerned.”

Just then, *ton*, Shiori lightly pushed Homura’s arm and separated their body.

And then, with blaming eyes she burned a clear fire of hatred―and said.

“A good-for-nothing that threw away his various promises and ran away, just what is he doing returning back here after all this time.”

“…That’s mighty harsh how you say it.”

Homura shrugged his shoulders from Shiori’s hostile gaze.

(Well, it’s only obvious that she is angry.)

Five years ago, he got out from Japan without saying anything to Shiori.

That was the conclusion Homura reached from thinking about Shiori in his own way, but Shiori being angry like this was also only natural.

Because Homura also thought so, he couldn’t even give an excuse or gloss over the matter in regards to the girl’s blaming gaze.

Thereupon, as if Shiori had no interest in Homura that was like that, she returned her gaze to the front and resumed leading the way.

Their arms were already separated, now Shiori was walking briskly with a fast pace.

After a while,

{Your whining is annoying! It’s my own business no matter which platoon I want to move to!}

{What’s with your attitude-!!}

From the other side of the path corner, the angry voices of a male and female could be heard.

There was no mistake.

At the other side was the platoon room of the 101st.

“Hey. It’s annoying right?”

“Well, certainly, it makes me want to just get away too…”

“I don’t want to enter inside that anymore, so I’m going back first to the dormitory.”

“Right. Thanks for the guide.”

Shiori lightly waved her hand after telling him her farewell, and Homura advanced towards the corner alone.

Passing through the corner, there was a door there attached with a plate numbering 101.

The quarreling voices reverberated out from inside the door.

===Part 5===

{I’m out already from this platoon.}

With that sentence as the beginning, the confrontation between Sumika and Nakajima was not something peaceful from the start. But finally after getting this far, a dangerous air as if the both of them would be going at each other soon began to drift off.

Unable to bear it, Ichinotani Chikori who at first remained a spectator cut in between the two.

“Le, Leader and also Nakajima-kun, let’s calm down a little? Okay?”

“There is no way I can calm down! I and also Chikori-san, if we weren’t saved by that person we might have really died back there!”

That was why Chikori’s attempt was futile.

Sumika had been already completely fired up.

While her golden hair stood on end from rage, Sumika pushed back Chikori and drew closer to Nakajima.

“Nakajima-san! Are you thinking about just how much danger we encountered because you ran away on your own!? Although it ended well because of Homura-san’s assistance, but if Homura-san didn’t come just what was going to happen to us! Yet despite so you didn’t even apologize and in addition even quit the platoon, isn’t there a limit to just how one can be so rude!?”

“I don’t care! You two almost died only because both of you are greenhorns! Don’t make it my fault!”

But Nakajima was also similarly fired up.

He yelled angrily with a voice so loud that spit flew at Sumika’s face.

“You are planning to shift the blame!?”

“In the first place it’s fine even if we ignored the scramble! If we did that the National Defense Magician would take care of it, yet Hoshikawa accepted the mission on your own so…! Everything is your fault!”

“The trainee platoon is also a member of National Defense Magician! We have a responsibility to respond to the scramble!”

“Hah-! You're acting like a good kid as usual aren’t you―! As expected from the S-rank magician-sama. But ignoring the scramble is done by all trainee platoons! Everyone cuts corners in this. After all by raising achievements in repelling demons, you will only pointlessly stand out and just get placed on the front line in the future, not taking the scramble is just obvious!”

“Wha-, are you seriously saying that!? Humans that can handle sorcery are still few in number. If we who are just that few in number don’t do this frantically then just what’s going to happen! What’s going to happen if we cannot protect everyone!”

“Like I care! Besides why do I have to bet my life for other people’s sake, just because I happen to be able to handle magic power and got conscripted! If you want to become a superman that much then just do it yourself! Who wants to go along with you!”

When he returned a sharp parting remark like that, Nakajima now couldn’t turn back anymore.

Opening the door with a force as if hitting the door, he exited outside while his shoulders were heaving in rage.

After Nakajima left, Sumika dropped her waist on the pipe chair in the platoon room and blew out her breath.

“Really, what a low awareness……!”

That disappointment was not directed to just Nakajima alone.

Not limited to him, the majority of people in this academy had low motivation.

Well, it was not something so unjustifiable.

Even though humans that could manipulate magic power were already few even in the best of times, the number of magicians was greatly decreased from the war with <Demon King Typhon>.

That was why people who possessed even the slightest bit of aptitude were forcefully enrolled into the magician training academy.

And then from the shortage of human personnel, there were a lot of cases where <Soldier class> demon’s extermination like this time were handed over to the students in the trainee platoon.

It couldn’t be helped, because of the fact that the demons couldn’t be killed except by an attack that was using magic power.

However, to tell children to be understanding about such a problem of society was an unreasonable talk.

Just why do they have to do something this dangerous?

It was not like Sumika too couldn’t understand that feeling.

(However, even if they can understand they cannot accept it.)

She understood that it was scary. Even she was scared of the exchange of life. Even today she had just almost died.

But, right now the only ones who could equally oppose the demons were only them.

Despite so, why they couldn’t become frantic about this, no matter what it made her really irritated.

In that area…Sumika was also still immature.

As a result, Sumika who had a high awareness as a magician felt uncertain somehow.

Too frantic. Gloomy. What are you doing acting like a good child? She was ridiculed like that, estranged, while she was a possessor of the greatest fighting strength that was S-rank Magician where there were only ten people in the world, she was washed away to the 101st platoon that was scorned as [baggage platoon]. She was stuck with taking care of poor students that couldn’t be accepted anywhere else.

Even so Sumika didn’t rot, in order to make her platoon able to fight somehow even with all the difficulties, she was always wracking her brains over and gave out instructions, but she had never been rewarded even once.

Even though she had devoted her best, the existence of humans beside herself made all of her effort for nothing.

No matter how much she did her very best, the result was always always tilting into a bad direction.

And today the end result was she was almost killed by something like an orc.

Herself that if she was alone she could kill something like an orc instantly.

“Haa……..”

Sumika released a big sigh and covered her head with both her hands.

Will that couldn’t be understood. Her useless teammates.

The anxiety of Sumika’s heart reached the peak.

And then the petite girl with loose and disheveled hair that was pushed back just now, Ichinotani Chikori called out reservedly to Sumika who was like that.

“Leader, cheer up. Leader didn’t do anything bad you know…?”

Those words of Chikori were her consideration towards the totally exhausted Sumika right from her heart.

But, …Chikori was also a factor of that exhaustion.

Looking from Sumika’s position, Chikori also had the same fault like Nakajima.

That was why Chikori’s words of encouragement snapped apart the frayed mind of Sumika.

“That’s just obviousssss-!!!!”

“Kyan-“

“Chikori-san. Even you are not unrelated to this problem. Even though I told you to stop, yet you rushed off on your own! In the end you were taken hostage! Do you not have self-awareness just how much trouble you caused me because of your rash action!?”

“Bu, but, that time the orc was heading to the town area…”

“Then what you should have done was to circle ahead to the town and evacuate the citizens! Just why do you think I had you and Nakajima-kun form a group!? That’s because the two of you cannot win against an orc alone! I have told you that thoroughly in the briefing! I told you to absolutely not fight if one of you is not there! Despite that just why did you commit something so foolish like entering battle by yourself-!”

“A, auu”

Being pierced through by eyes that were carrying burning rage, Chikori’s face paled and her expression was going to cry.

However Sumika didn’t stop. Chikori’s words from before made her lose all self-control of her emotion, all the various resentment that had been piling up since she enrolled into New Tokyo Sorcery Academy turned into an overflowing muddy stream that even Sumika herself couldn’t control.

“I’ve…-! Even though I’ve been thinking very hard for strategies that could be accomplished even with little magic power, just why can’t you move exactly like I said!? Chikori-san and Nakajima-kun too, and also Shiori-san that always just do the bare minimum of her work even though she is actually an excellent magician! Everyone, everyone is always doing just whatever they please-! You all cannot be useful satisfactorily, so at least please just listen to what I saiddd-!!”

“..................-“

“…ah,”

Instantly, Sumika thought ‘now I’ve done it’, that was what her expression looked like.

Just now she had said really too much.

Looking at Chikori’s expression that had been completely stabbed by her words, made Sumika aware of that.

(Even though I’m the one, that knows best just how much Chikori-san has worked hard…)

“E, err, Chikori-san. Just now is…”

Trying to apologize for her own slip of the tongue, Sumika spun her words. But at that time,

“Aa― my ears hurt. Just why a girl’s yelling face can reverberate this much in the eardrum I wonder.”

The door of the platoon room opened, and a single male entered the room.

It was the one who saved the life of Sumika and Chikori just before, the <Evil God User> Kamishiro Homura.

===Part 6===

(Aa― aa―, I really done it huh.)

In front of the two who was wearing their <Magi’s Jacket> in <{{furigana|Standby Mode|Uniform Shape}}>, Homura was making a bitter expression inside his heart.

What he regretted was the him who took upon himself to cut in at the timing that stopped Sumika’s apologize.

(Even though the matter will be settled for the time being if I just let her apologize. Just why did you come out, me.)

His intervention was done mostly unconsciously.

Homura was straining his ear and listening attentively at the conversation from outside, but when he sensed that Sumika was going to apologize about how she said too much to Chikori, he showed himself completely.

That was because for Sumika to apologize at Chikori here, was the thing that mustn’t be done the most.

It was a poor move that would bring nothing but harm for both Sumika and also Chikori.

The apology might even liable to destroy this team.

―Actually, that kind of thing shouldn’t have really related to Homura but,

(No matter what it ain’t good. I just can’t bring myself to leave something like this alone.)

If there was something in front of his eyes that was [going to break], he would unconsciously reached out his hand.

That was also Homura’s nature.

(…Well, fine. I interfered already so I gotta take responsibility.)

Appointing such responsibility to himself, Homura called out to the two that was inside the room.

“Both of you, you two look comparatively energetic for someone that almost died huh. That’s a relief.”

“Ho, Homura-san-!”

When she knew that the man who entered the room was Homura, Sumika’s expression that was dyed with anger until now turned brilliant.

The girl happily rushed toward Homura and bowed her head deeply.

“You are Kamishiro Homura-san aren’t you! Truly thank you very much for helping us from the danger before this! As the representative of 101st, I express you our gratitude!”

“You really give an extremely courteous greeting huh. Even toward the <Evil God User> that is even called the [traitor].”

“Evil god or whatever, what mistake there is in using a power that you can use in order to protect. Even if the power that you use is even more evil than the devil itself, you are a hero who stand in the dangerous foremost line more than anyone and saved lives more numerous than anyone, not an evil existence.”

It was the duty of those with power to protect those without power.

For Sumika who remonstrated herself like that, Homura who exterminated the <Demon King Typhon> was an existence she aspired for.

That was why, the girl didn’t care at all about the label that the influential people stuck to Homura.

She stared straight at Homura and sent him a gaze of respect and gratitude.

“E, excuse me-! Please let me say my thanks too! To save me from the danger, and for even going as far as healing my injury, really, thank you very much-!”

Continuing after Sumika, Ichinotani Chikori was also lowering her head to Homura while her little ponytail shook.

He couldn’t feel respect as much as Sumika from the girl’s voice and gaze, but it was obvious that there was no fear in those.

Looking at that situation, Homura finally comprehended.

Certainly, it was just like Onjouji said, the sense of these two as magician was not bad.

While it was only natural for Sumika who was already an S-rank magician, this Ichinotani Chikori was also a girl who was able to believe the thing that she had seen herself.

Not carried away by rumor, believing on what she had seen herself, believing on the knowledge that she had obtained.

In a certain meaning it was even the most important resource for a magician.

Just from that exchange Homura had managed to take in these two’s aptitude.

“Well, it’s all fine. It’s not even too much trouble for me. Besides I said it right, I got a little reason that I got entered into 101st. In other words from now on we are comrade.”

Talking to the two with a kind tone,

“Helping a useless leader that has no ability at all save yelling around, is also the duty of a comrade.”

That voice tone, suddenly turned into something cold.

“――eh.”

It was words that suddenly struck and stabbed Sumika.

Sumika’s expression froze from those words.

(…I am, useless?)

Cold scorn from the person she was harboring aspiration to.

But Homura left alone the dumbfounded Sumika, he passed through in front of the girl and,

“Ichinotani Chikori, right? You too have it hard huh. Getting used by this greenhorn and almost died. You have my sympathy. Really, it’s great that your wound was not something big. But you can be relieved. From tomorrow I’ll be the leader of 101st. Just as you know, I’m a magician that can even use evil god, that’s why those demons are just like fart for me. If you work under me you ain’t gonna meet almost death experience for the second time.”

Homura gave a friendly smile while clapping Chikori’s shoulder repeatedly.

“Eh, a…, eh.”

However Chikori was also confused from that.

Just how should she act in this scene that would be good, her expression showed that she hadn’t the slightest idea.

But, faster than that confused Chikori,

“Please wait.”

Sumika pierced Homura’s nape with a sharp voice.

Right now the envy in Sumika’s eyes was gone, replaced with a glaring hostility.

It was understandable. Sumika believed that she had continued until this far with her very best effort in her own way.

For her to be ridiculed by someone who just arrived today that didn’t know anything saying whatever he pleased, there was no way she could endure that.

“Certainly Kamishiro-san is far stronger than someone like me. I even think that it’s fine to say that there is no magician exists above this earth that can match you. That’s why perhaps it’s the correct decision for you to become the leader. But, …I cannot accept to be told as useless.”

“You really talk big for someone that almost death just from something like orc.”

“Wr, wrong! You are wrong you know, Evil God User-san! That’s because of my fault! It’s my bad because I didn’t listen to leader’s warning, leader didn’t do anything wrong at all-!”

However Homura shook his head saying “No” to Chikori’s objection and add to his denial.

“It ain’t wrong. In the first place, her inability to draw out Ichinotani’s power except of something to the degree of getting beaten by orc, is the proof of her incompetence. Yet despite so, to brand Ichinotani as useless is just shelving her fault. Let me say this, if I become Ichinotani’s master then at tomorrow morning, ―Hoshikawa Sumika, she can become even stronger than you.”

“―――!”

“Eh, eeeee!?”

Chikori screamed from the too sudden words.

On the other hand Sumika was making a doubtful expression that seemed to say [Just what in the world this guy is talking about], while scrutinizing Homura.

“<Evil God User>-san really doesn’t have a humor sense aren’t you?”

“If you say you cannot believe that let’s try it out for real. Tomorrow is also just right because it’s Sunday and there is no class. Do a mock battle between you and Ichinotani the first thing in the morning. I’m going to show you I can make Ichinotani win against you in that mock battle.”

“Wha, tha, that kind of thing is obviously impossible-!”

Chikori who was dragged into a duel without her say so raised a protesting voice, but Homura didn’t lend his ear to that at all.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. Don’t get that nervous. This kind of girl, she won’t even reach your pinky after all.”

“…Do you know about the grades of me and Chikori-san?”

“You are an S-rank magician and the number 1 of your year. While Ichinotani is in the academy’s lowest place with E-rank…the lowest rank. I have seen your data before so I know already. Obtaining the title S-rank magician when you are still a student, well that’s quite something. But looking from <{{furigana|Evil God User|my}}> position, the rating of those like <{{furigana|Heroic Spirit User|you}}> is just like comparing heights of bunch of acorn.”

“-!”

Sumika’s eyebrow twitched from those words.

At any rate <Heroic Spirit User> could only contract with human soul, in contrast this man exchanged contract with god itself. The scale of strength was different.

But, even so Sumika until now had continued to struggle to death doing her best until now in order to distinguish herself from among those acorns.

She strived in her study of sorcery sacrificing her youth, she exposed her life to danger and overcame battles against demon.

In the end of all that what she obtained in her hand was her own power, the title as S-rank magician.

For that, to be told that it was only something to the degree that could be overtaken by the academy’s weakest Chikori in just one night, it was not something that could be endured. That was why,

“…Fine then. That match, I’ll accept it.”

“Leader!?”

With eyes that conceived a strong anger, Sumika accepted the fight that Homura brought to her.

“The match will be tomorrow morning. Can you get Chikori-san to become stronger than even me until then?”

“It’s a piece of cake.”

“But, if Chikori-san lost to me, please withdraw your calling me as incompetent.”

“Of course. I’ll also bow my head. Not just that. I’ll also entrust being the leader to you for a long time, and I’m going to become a loyal underling for you that follow your order no matter what it is.”

“…That’s extremely generous isn’t it?”

“After all there ain’t no way I’m gonna lose.”

“I’ll make you regret it. That self-conceit.”

“Just who do you think I am. Even if I get self-conceit, but just against a mere magician as an opponent, I still got a lot of leeway left.”

“……Is that so? Then, let’s meet tomorrow.”

Glancing in annoyance at Homura whose composed attitude persistently didn’t break, Sumika left from the platoon room.

===Part 7===

After Sumika exited the room, there were only Homura and Chikori left inside the room.

For a while Chikori was dumbfounded from the fact that a duel between her and Sumika had been decided, but when she came to her senses she protested to Homura as if snarling.

“Wh, what kind of promise that you decided by yourself!? Th, this is troubling for me you know-!”

“This is the chance to clear your reputation right? If you win against Hoshikawa, then you won’t be called useless for the second time anymore.”

“That might be so but, for me to win against leader, there is no way that’s possible…. In the first place leader didn’t do anything bad at all! Today too she tried to help me who violated the order, she was always supervising the training of the weak me! Yet…even though you don’t know anything, don’t you badmouth leader-!”

Chikori moved her small body in a large way and expressed the strength of her anger.

That anger was not about the duel that had been decided without her say-so, but an anger toward the fact that Homura criticized Sumika without knowing about her dedication.

Sumika was accomplishing her duty as the leader of a trainee platoon far surpassing the standard that had been demanded from her.

Chikori knew about that.

And also about how she and the other was dragging down the legs of such Sumika.

That was why, she couldn’t bear it for Homura to unreasonably hurt Sumika with his words.

(I’ve to quickly apologize to leader……!)

She had to quickly restore the unfairly wounded honor of Sumika.

Surely right now she was deeply wounded.

Thinking so, Chikori brushed aside Homura and reached out her hand to the doorknob in order to chase after Sumika.

Homura’s voice reached that back.

“Where do you plan to go?”

“That’s obvious! I’m going to apologize to leader!”

“Even though I’ve said that I’m gonna make you stronger than that girl from now on? What are you gonna do about the mock battle tomorrow?”

“Something like that has nothing to do with me! Rather than that, I’ve to apologize to leader quickly. If it’s now perhaps she will forgive me―”

“After apologizing and getting forgiven, you are going to keep being a hindrance to her for your whole life?”

“――-!?”

Instantly, from Homura’s words that was quiet as if being whispered, yet possessing a sharpness that pierced her heart from the back, Chikori’s whole body froze.

“Just what are you getting surprised from? You apologize. Hoshikawa forgives you. I become the bad guy. With that everything is buried. That’s the gist of it right. That’s what are you going to do right now.”

“That, is……”

“It’s just the idea of putting on hold everything by leaving behind the real problem and preserves the surface of your human relationship. Not just you Ichinotani. That girl Hoshikawa too. Before I came out, that girl was trying to apologize to you for saying too much. But, that was the wrong action. No matter how much you try to maintain the surface of your relationship, the left behind pestering wound will surely coming to a head someday. And that’s also gonna happen in a scene that’s even more fatal than today. That’s why I cut in there.”

Correct. Even Homura understood perfectly that Sumika didn’t have any wrong.

No rather, he evaluated Sumika as an excellent magician that was too much for the level of a student, a competent leader.

But, there was only one, one thing that Sumika fatally mistaken as the way to resolve this problem.

That was exactly why, Homura created this situation where he made Sumika to duel Chikori without apologizing.

There was only one way to resolve the problem of these two, there was no other way than for Chikori to become strong.

Therefore Homura asked Chikori.

“Ichinotani, do you think you are fine staying like you are now?”

Against that question, the shoulder of Chikori who was grasping the doorknob shook.

―Just who in the world can think that it’s okay to stay like this.

That’s,

“……It’s obvious that even me think it’s not okay.”

The answering voice was filled with painful emotion.

That’s right, she too thought that she couldn’t stay like this. She never thought even for an instant that it was okay.

That was why, she did all the training that she could come up with.

Almost the whole time of her day was devoted for training her magic power.

“But, it didn’t do me a single good at all! Even though everyone else rapidly get stronger doing the same training, just me, rather than getting stronger I rapidly getting weaker instead!”

When she first enrolled into New Tokyo Sorcery Academy she wasn’t like this.

But, about three months after enrolling, suddenly her magic power became unable to grow.

No, it was not just that. No matter how desperate the effort that she did, even when she piled up effective training that Sumika thought really hard for her sake, day by day Chikori became unable to knead her magic power well, and right now she had completely weakened until she became unable to even mostly use her contracted Heroic Spirit’s <Hero Skill>.

Just why did this happen.

The answer that came out from the instructor she consulted with was, ―this was the [limit of her talent].

The limit of her capacity as magician. That was why the instructor said that she couldn’t hope for more than this.

Then―

“Then it can’t be helped.”

She didn’t think that it was fine for her to stay like this.

But if she was told that she couldn’t hope for more than this―

“Isn’t there nothing I can do, except doing my hardest at what I can do right now.”

That was why Chikori did just that until now.

She trained for dozens of times longer than other people, trying to at the very least slow down the declining of her magic power.

Like that she did the only thing she could do until now.

That was why, being asked [is it fine to stay like this] this late just made her irritated.

“…There is nothing else to be said more than this.”

Saying that, this time for sure Chikori was going to get out of the room. But,

“It’s a mistake that this is the limit of your talent. What happen to you, ―is just a sickness.”

“……eh-“

The girl’s leg stopped from the unforeseen word.

===Part 8===

The door was still opened, but Chikori’s leg was stopped, Homura talked toward that Chikori.

He noticed when he healed her wound, the truth that was happening in her body.

“It’s a rare illness that there is still even less than ten people in the world that ever got it. It’s called Apple Seed(AS) syndrome. An illness that occur only in magician. From the medical examination I did when I healed you before, there is no mistake about this.”

“……Sick, ness…?”

“Yeah, the magician that is afflicted with this illness has their magic power conduit vein that create magic power and circulate it to the whole body degenerating really fast, just in a few months the ill person will completely become unable to use sorcery and become a normal human. That’s why no matter how hard the current you work hard, it’s obvious that all of that is pointless. After all, even the new magic power conduit vein created from the magic power training that you piled up is degenerating from the start right when it was created.”

“Bu, but, the teacher didn’t say even a single word about illness…..!”

“That’s because that guy is just ignorance. And then…I can heal your illness.”

“Eh-!”

“Apple Seed syndrome is an illness that degenerate your magic power conduit vein and blocked them. That’s why, it’s going to be fine if magic power is poured from outside and the veins are forcibly opened. Although doing something like pushing open other people’s conduit vein with your own magic power, is something like sticking through a sharply pointed wire through a brittle blood vessel. Even though the way to cure it is understood, it’s not something possibly doable in practice. But…if it’s me then it’s doable.”

“Th, that’s, is that, true!?”

“Of course. After all though the image of <Evil God User> tend to sound wild, but in practice that title meant a sorcery expert in the level that can control freely even [god].”

In this world there was no sorcery existed that Homura didn’t know, sorcery that he couldn’t perform also didn’t exist at all.

Whether it was offense, or even in defense, or even in healing―

Because Homura was perfect in everything, that he was able to employ even god.

“And then Apple Seed is similar like an epidemic parotitis, someone who has overcame it once won’t get it anymore for the second time. That’s why if you receive my teaching and duel against Hoshikawa tomorrow, that’s the proof that you are completely healed. Based on that I’m gonna ask one more time. ……You, are you fine staying weak?”

“……”

Homura’s question that was repeated once more.

Chikori couldn’t return any word to that, she grew quiet and hung her head down.

The girl was lost. Was Homura’s words the truth? Was if fine for her to believe him?

Thereupon, Homura created an escape path for such Chikori.

“Well, I’m not gonna force you. If right now you want to chase Hoshikawa and get back to being friend like before then that’s okay. Not like I’m gonna blame you. In the first place since I entered 101st already, there is not going any dead that will come out just from taking one or two extra baggage.”

It was fine even if she stayed weak. Homura said that he would allow the weak Chikori.

Saying honestly, this was also words that came out from Homura’s true feeling.

Until now, people who met sorrow or died because they were blessed with talent in sorcery, Homura had seen a lot of them.

It was better to not have any talent in sorcery. That was Homura’s conclusion in regard of sorcery.

That was why he was not forcing her. He also wouldn’t hurry her.

Until the end it was Chikori herself that chose. Saying those words from his mouth as the last, he now waited for Chikori’s reply.

And then, after a little long silence―Chikori opened her mouth.

“……Leader, is really kind. Since the second year, she tried her hardest to make strong this me that couldn’t do well any sorcery at all. …Everyone abandoned me and treated me like unneeded child, yet among them only leader believed in me. I can continue being a magician until today is thanks to leader. That’s why…leader, is a really important friend for me.”

“Is that so.”

“However, exactly because of that I don’t want to become Sumika-chan’s friend, I want to become her comrade in arms!”

Chikori closed hard the door that she opened in order to chase after Sumika.

That was Chikori’s answer.

Just now, when Homura proposed to her an escape path that it was fine even if she was not healed, a future flashed inside Chikori’s mind.

Besides Homura and Sumika who betted their life fighting demon, not doing anything, looking up from afar at a safe place at those two, the figure of herself.

(…Something like that, I don’t want it!)

She liked being useful to someone since a long time ago.

She liked seeing someone’s happy face.

That was why, Chikori had always admired hero that protected those smiling face, she came to this New Tokyo Sorcery Academy trying to become that kind of hero.

Perhaps her illness would be cured.

That hope resurrected the passion of that time inside Chikori’s heart.

That’s right. If she didn’t do anything staying like this, she would not be a magician any longer sooner or later anyway.

She would leave this academy, with her important friend that believed in her, continued to believe in her until now stayed disappointed in her.

That was, completely running away.

Then, if there was hope even if just a little, she was going to bet on it.

For the sake of Sumika who accompanied someone like her until now.

And then, above all for the sake of her own dream.

“Evil God User-san. Please make me strong!”

There was no more color of hesitation in Chikori’s eyes.

Then, asking repeatedly more than this was just boorish, it was something that Homura also understood.

“Just leave it to me.”

Therefore Homura gave his firm promise toward the girl’s resolve.

That he would grant the girl’s wish.

And then for that sake, he slowly approached Chikori, and grabbed the delicate shoulders of the girl.

“Eh……!”

Her body stiffened from the sudden happening, Chikori tried to take a few steps back from Homura.

But Homura was,

“It’s okay. Believe me.”
[[File:Ultimate_Antihero_V1_c13.png|thumb]]
Gently, Homura stared at the girl’s eyes and whispered.

Chikori was agitated from the distance that suddenly became close, her eyes anxiously shook―

“Yes……”

The strength of her body immediately relaxed.

The eyes of Homura that stared at her.

Affection was overflowing from there.

To the degree that it surprised her, if human could really be this earnest and sincere toward other people.

That was exactly why, it was something that was worthy to believe.

Chikori closed her eyes and entrusted her body to Homura even while her cheeks reddened.

“Good kid.”

Homura whispered that to Chikori who entrusted her body to him and stroke her cheek with the hand that was on her shoulder.

And then keeping like that he lifted the front hair on her forehead, and kissed the forehead like a gentle touch.

At the same time from his lips through her skin, his magic power flowed into the conduit vein of Chikori.

“…a, -!”

―Instantly, sky colored magic power overflowed from Chikori’s whole body.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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| Back to [[Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Prologue|Prologue]]
| Return to [[Ultimate Antihero|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Ultimate Antihero:Volume 1 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T02:51:10Z

Armando99: /* Part 3 */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher Tsukahara, had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities were finished at evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys haven’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still haven’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with just us here. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriots who were hiding in the inn and were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After comparing their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughed.

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president, Hoshikaze Hikaru, opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that this time, the incident happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground. Because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, he was spanked after that by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys come out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also take the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to a conclusion.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her a question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, sharp sounds of drawn swords from the scabbards on the swordsmen's hips, rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her blades, two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power flowed into the Sacred Treasure and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasure had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of a Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while struggling to run towards Kagura.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world did they get all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to the punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of invisible wind  to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway, Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out in one breath with the assistance of Psychokinesis.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae used her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a stop on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back and the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent and if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got too carried away just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust went into her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However, you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya, even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influence to the surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with Kanae’s current speed. She unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she got a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in a stagger.

“If you turn to violence, the Magic Division and the Sword Division will then return back to their gloomy relations. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku was still doubting her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even faster.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however, nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then make her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drawn near…until the range of the kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breathing was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movements hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes and from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off with the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division till now, had it finally woken up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even faster with that explosive power. At first, many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of a crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of that attack was not a problem.

Kanae evaded the crescent shadow of the sword and slipped into Kohaku’s flank with a speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of her footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster than before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continuously cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse her magic forced on her body.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelm her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on, this one is the student council president. This one proclaim's victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution of our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled, while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded magic powers surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grow weak rapidly, inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her frozen.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, when she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that has a different outward appearance-toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at her like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elves existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered thattheir own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be any need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly towards him who tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as an annoying rival. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support herself.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grow hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Koyuki was sleeping in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised her, came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T02:22:21Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher Tsukahara, had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities were finished at evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys haven’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still haven’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with just us here. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriots who were hiding in the inn and were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After comparing their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughed.

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president, Hoshikaze Hikaru, opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that this time, the incident happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground. Because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, he was spanked after that by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys come out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also take the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to a conclusion.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her a question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, sharp sounds of drawn swords from the scabbards on the swordsmen's hips, rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her blades, two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power flowed into the Sacred Treasure and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasure had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of a Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while struggling to run towards Kagura.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world did they get all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to the punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of invisible wind  to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway, Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out in one breath with the assistance of Psychokinesis.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae used her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a stop on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back and the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent and if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got too carried away just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust went into her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However, you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya, even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influence to the surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with Kanae’s current speed. She unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she got a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in a stagger.

“If you turn to violence, the Magic Division and the Sword Division will then return back to their gloomy relations. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku was still doubting her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even faster.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however, nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then make her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drawn near…until the range of the kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breathing was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movements hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes and from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off with the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division till now, had it finally woken up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even faster with that explosive power. At first, many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of a crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of that attack was not a problem.

Kanae evaded the crescent shadow of the sword and slipped into Kohaku’s flank with a speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of her footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster than before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continuously cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse her magic forced on her body.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelm her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on, this one is the student council president. This one proclaim's victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution of our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled, while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grew weak rapidly inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her froze.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, that she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that held different outward appearance, toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elf’s existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by the society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly toward him that tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as a rival annoyingly. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support her.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grew hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Where Koyuki was sleeping was in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised herself came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T02:06:08Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher Tsukahara, had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities were finished at evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys haven’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still haven’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with just us here. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriots who were hiding in the inn and were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After comparing their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughed.

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president, Hoshikaze Hikaru, opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that this time, the incident happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground. Because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, he was spanked after that by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys come out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also take the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to a conclusion.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her a question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, sharp sounds of drawn swords from the scabbards on the swordsmen's hips, rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her blades, two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power flowed into the Sacred Treasure and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasure had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of a Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while struggling to run towards Kagura.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world did they get all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to the punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of invisible wind  to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway, Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out in one breath with the assistance of Psychokinesis.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae used her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a stop on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back and the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent and if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got too carried away just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust went into her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However, you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya, even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influence to the surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with Kanae’s current speed. She unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she got a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in a stagger.

“If you turn to violence, the Magic Division and the Sword Division will then return back to their gloomy relations. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku was still doubting her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even faster.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however, nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then make her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drawn near…until the range of the kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breathing was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movements hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes and from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off with the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division until now, had it finally woken up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even further with that explosive power. At first many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of the attack was not a problem.

Kanae who evaded the crescent shadow of the sword slipped into Kohaku’s flank with speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of the footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster from before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continued to be cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse she forced on her body by her magic.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelmed her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on this one is the student council president. This one proclaimed victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grew weak rapidly inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her froze.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, that she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that held different outward appearance, toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elf’s existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by the society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly toward him that tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as a rival annoyingly. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support her.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grew hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Where Koyuki was sleeping was in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised herself came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T01:52:37Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher Tsukahara, had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities were finished at evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys haven’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still haven’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with just us here. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriots who were hiding in the inn and were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After comparing their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughed.

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president, Hoshikaze Hikaru, opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that this time, the incident happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground. Because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, he was spanked after that by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys come out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also take the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to a conclusion.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her a question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, sharp sounds of drawn swords from the scabbards on the swordsmen's hips, rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her blades, two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power flowed into the Sacred Treasure and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasure had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of a Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while struggling to run towards Kagura.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world did they get all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to the punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of invisible wind  to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway, Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out in one breath with the assistance of Psychokinesis.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae used her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a stop on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back and the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent and if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got too carried away just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust went into her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However, you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya, even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influences to his surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with the current Kanae’s speed. Kanae unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she became a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in stagger.

“If you turn to violence, then the Magic Division and the Sword Division will return back to their gloomy relation. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku still doubted her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even further.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then made her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drew near…until the range of kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breath was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movement hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division until now, had it finally woke up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even further with that explosive power. At first many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of the attack was not a problem.

Kanae who evaded the crescent shadow of the sword slipped into Kohaku’s flank with speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of the footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster from before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continued to be cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse she forced on her body by her magic.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelmed her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on this one is the student council president. This one proclaimed victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grew weak rapidly inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her froze.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, that she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that held different outward appearance, toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elf’s existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by the society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly toward him that tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as a rival annoyingly. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support her.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grew hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Where Koyuki was sleeping was in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised herself came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T01:27:27Z

Armando99: /* Part 1 */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher Tsukahara, had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities were finished at evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys haven’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still haven’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with just us here. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriots who were hiding in the inn and were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After comparing their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughed.

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president, Hoshikaze Hikaru, opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that this time, the incident happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground. Because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, he was spanked after that by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys come out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also take the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to a conclusion.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, a sharp sounds of drawn swords from its scabbards on the hips of the swordsmen rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power was flowed into the Sacred Treasures and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasures had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while running to Kagura in struggle.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world they got all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to a punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of wind invisible to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out with the assistance of Psychokinesis in one breath.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae use her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a brake on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back, the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi into the sheath on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent, if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got carried away too much just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust entered her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in the society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influences to his surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with the current Kanae’s speed. Kanae unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she became a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in stagger.

“If you turn to violence, then the Magic Division and the Sword Division will return back to their gloomy relation. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku still doubted her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even further.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then made her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drew near…until the range of kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breath was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movement hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division until now, had it finally woke up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even further with that explosive power. At first many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of the attack was not a problem.

Kanae who evaded the crescent shadow of the sword slipped into Kohaku’s flank with speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of the footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster from before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continued to be cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse she forced on her body by her magic.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelmed her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on this one is the student council president. This one proclaimed victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grew weak rapidly inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her froze.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, that she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that held different outward appearance, toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elf’s existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by the society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly toward him that tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as a rival annoyingly. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support her.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grew hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Where Koyuki was sleeping was in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised herself came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 3 Chapter 1

2015-05-20T01:15:00Z

Armando99: /* Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}} */

{{Incomplete|parts=3|tparts=7}}

==Chapter 1 - {{furigana|The Night of Beginning|Tonight’s the Night}}==

===Part 1===

“So, there is no mistake that the [meeting place] of Kohaku’s gang is inside this abandoned club room?”

In the night where there was not even any shadow of students who loitered around the school, the Sword Division student council led by Hayashizaki Kanae came to this clubroom building where they sensed the presence of [clandestine meeting].

Kanae looked up to the building that towered over them in the darkness and knitted her eyebrows.

―The second day since Nii-sama disappeared from the Magic Division.

Two days ago, headmaster Otonashi from the Magic Division handed down the order to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte] to Otonashi Kaguya. However Kaguya was obstructed by Hikita Kohaku, and one moment later Kazuki and the others managed to slip away. After that, the whereabouts of Kazuki and the others were completely unknown.

Kohaku, who helped with their escape, still brazenly attended her class.

It was clear that they sheltered Kazuki and the others somewhere in the Sword Division.

However some teachers of the Sword Division might be pulling the strings of Kohaku’s action from behind the scenes, The teachers from the Magic Division’s side were in vigilance of that possibility and were unable to seek cooperation from the Sword Division. There were also some thoughts that they didn’t want to let the students know about this incident. For these kinds of reasons, they couldn’t perform a large scale [Kazuki search] inside the ground of the Sword Division, freezing the state of affairs.

In the middle of all that, the Sword Division's Kanae and others, who were aware of the situation from Kaguya, started to move independently.

“I checked the data of the camera monitors from these few days all night. I had confirmed that Kohaku came frequently at late night here to this clubroom building. It was only a glance though.”

Yamada Torazou answered the question that Kanae asked from before.

The camera monitors that were laid out inside the Sword Division’s ground were originally a countermeasure for suspicious people.

Torazou confirmed the footage from those cameras using the special privilege of the student council.

“This building has the abandoned clubroom of the ping pong club that had been abolished. The adviser of that ping pong club was that Tsukahara.”

Tsukahara Hisatada―the Sword Division’s teacher who was suspected as Kohaku's backer.

“I tried to search this abandoned club room in the afternoon, but the key to the room had been changed without anyone’s notice and even the master key cannot open it. There was no sound at all from the inside, so it seems they're not hiding Kazuki and the others here. There is no mistake however that this is a room of some importance.”

The suspicious teacher, Tsukahara had built a secret room and there, Kohaku had came and visited frequently. There was no more room for doubt.

Continuing, the vice president Kamiizumi Iori gave her report.

“I was on the lookout while eating anpan<ref>Red bean bread, the staple food of stalking detective anywhere</ref> and milk yo~. I had confirmed that when all club activities had been finished at the evening, Kohaku and her two friends entered the clubroom building while being careful of people’s eyes yo~.”

Based on the information from the camera monitors, Iori was monitoring the students who entered the clubroom building.

“As soon as I finished eating those anpan and milk, the trash became a nuisance you know? But what if those bunch came when I went to throw the trash, what to do~, is what I thought. When those guys finally came and I manage to confirm it, I went away to throw the trash in relief yo~. Those guys hasn’t come out since then.”

“You were having too much fun [playing make-believe game of police-detective lookout]. Well, anyway Kohaku and the others still hasn’t come out from the clubroom right? Yosh, then let’s not wait for the decision of those indecisive Magic Division. Let’s bring down those guys' plan before it happens with only us. This is the so-called Ikedaya Incident of this era!”

Ikedaya Incident was the incident where Shinsengumi attacked the Meiji restoration patriot who were hiding in the inn who were planning to set fire to Kyoto. After liking their own action to a historical event, Kanae grinned broadly and laughing

The Magic Division’s student council of Kaguya and the others were in internal dissension because the vice-president Hoshikaze Hikaru opposed the order. Even if they were in a party together with those bunch, they must not let the problem from that side to hinder them too.

To say nothing that the incident this time happened inside the territory of the Sword Division.

“It’s surprising that Kaichou doesn’t let her feelings get in the way. How can you go along with this kind of order?”

Torazou once again asked about the impossible to believe event that he saw.

The situation that Kanae’s big brother, Hayashizaki Kazuki was put in was very severe. Kazuki who was contracted with a mysterious Diva plundered a Sacred Treasure from a Haunted Ground, because of that an order to arrest him along with Charlotte who accompanied him had been handed down. Kazuki resisted the attempt to arrest him and escaped.

“It’s not like that.” Kanae denied Torazou’s words.

“My objective is only to meet Nii-sama and see him with my own eyes. Things like Nii-sama attempting to pillage a Sacred treasure…there is no way that kind of thing could happen. Even if that’s true, that must be the Diva contracted with Nii-sama that possessed him. If it’s the Niisama-meister, me, I would be able to see whether Nii-sama is himself or not with just a glance. If it is the case that an evil Diva possessed Nii-sama, I’ll catch Nii-sama and I won’t have any objection about performing the [Stigmata Transplanting Operation]. I have heard about the danger of the transplanting operation of the stigmata, but…”

‘But’, Kanae’s eyes turned grim.

“If Nii-sama is actually still himself…that means the report about [Nii-sama attempted to pillage a Sacred Treasure] is wrong. That means someone is trying to frame Nii-sama. In that case, I’ll find that someone and kill him. I’m not using any metaphor, I’ll kill him without fail. I couldn’t care less about Charlotte, so I’ll let her go. It seems she would be killed if she is to be handed to Germany.”

“Oioi…you are not going to follow the order at all?”

Torazou whispered, flabbergasted, at his side Iori laughed cheerfully.

“Even though Kana-chan is too fired up by her emotions, it’s cool how all your arguments are so sound.”

“That’s because my Brocon is very reasonable. Even if I was too fired up by my emotions, it won’t lead me to a mistaken conclusion. My love to Nii-sama is the justice of the universe.”

“Someone trying to frame Kazuki who is just a normal student, isn’t that story too unreal?”

“Shut up, is your spanking still not enough Torazou? Nii-sama is the treasure of the universe after all.”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 013.jpg|thumb]]

Torazou shut his mouth dejectedly. Because he secretly went behind Kanae’s back to go along with Kaguya to arrest Kazuki, after that he was spanked by Kanae with all her strength.

“We won’t charge in to preserve the evidence, let’s wait until those guys came out from the clubroom building. We will beat them up completely and make them spit out where Nii-sama is, and also plunder the clubroom’s key. We will investigate the inside of the abandoned club room to search for something that can be used as evidence, and punish Kohaku and the others with suspension from school. While they are suspended, we will bring everything to finish.”

===Part 2===

When Hikita Kohaku exited the clubroom building with her comrades, there were shadows waiting in the darkness of her path.

The Japanese garden of the Sword Division at night looked like an ink-painting. But to Kohaku who reinforced her eyesight with magic power, she could make the distinction of the identity of the shadows clearly even more than someone using night scope.

A small-statured swordswoman with her braided hair fluttering in the night wind like a cat’s tail.

On her right and left a swordsman with large build and a swordswoman with bobbed hair were waiting.

There was no mistake with what she saw. The strongest swordsmen squad―Sword Division student council.

But Kohaku didn’t feel any fear. On the contrary, finally they came, her blood quickened.

Tonight is the night when the curtain will open.

“Where did you hide Nii-sama?”

The shadow in front of her―Kanae threw her question. A question that she didn’t expect to be answered, in other words a proclamation of war.

Without waiting for a reply, a sharp sounds of drawn swords from its scabbards on the hips of the swordsmen rang out at that place.

“You’re not coming here just for talking right, Kanae-kaichou. But if you try to judge our selves using the power of the student council and yet the table is turned back on you unsightly, you senpais won’t be able to introduce yourself as the student council anymore, you know? Isn’t that great? Tonight this one will take over the seat of the student council president.”

The Sword Division held the doctrine of strength even more extremely than the Magic Division. Because the doctrine of true strength was beaten into them through and through, the students bore inferiority complex toward the Magic Division and they became unable to go against the Magica Stigma.

It was recognized in the Sword Division that the strong students held many privileges, it went without saying that the student council president was also awarded various special privileges. In exchange, if the president was defeated by anyone even once, then no one would recognize them anymore.

The seat of the Sword Division’s student council president was decided not by election, it was something easily transferred by the result of a single duel.

If Kohaku could achieve victory against Kanae right now in that place, Kohaku could reach the top reigning position in one go.

So their plan could go on smoothly from now on, this was something that Kohaku just needed.

“Don’t get too conceited, you first year lad!”

Kanae drew out her two-swords style. With that as the signal, Torazou and Iori both at her side also drew their katana.

“Hiiragi! Kagura! Use the <Sacred Treasures> and bring down the extra at her sides! This one is going to defeat Kanae-kaichou!!”

Both of Kohaku’s comrades also drew out their Sacred Treasures just like Kohaku commanded.

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kannabi no Tachi|Long Sword of Divine Excess Fire}}!!”<ref>The first name is the name of the katana, the second name is the name of the technique</ref>

The slender swordsman wearing glasses―Hiiragi drew his katana, that katana created sparks from the friction with its scabbard and was enveloped with flame. When the flame sword was swung, ‘GOU!” a wave of flame flew toward Iori.

“Uwawa!? A surprising weapon that looks like Summoning Magic!? What is that, not fair!!”

Even while raising a scream, Iori read the magic power and evaded the wind of flame.

Battou Kaikon―magic power was flowed into the Sacred Treasures and released the various personal magic that the Sacred Treasures had.

Its power didn’t compare to the Summoning Magic of Diva, but it didn’t have casting time like a normal spell.

“Scream your refusal, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Touranjin|Large Waves Blade}}!!”

The black haired swordswoman―Kagura pointed the tip of her Sacred Treasure at Torazou. The next moment, a thin jet of water like a string was released straight ahead from the tip of the katana.

“DOWAA!”

Torazou’s blue defensive magic power scattered from receiving those water pressures that could even pierce a rock. But the shockwave was not to the degree that it could blow him away. Torazou went against the water jet while running to Kagura in struggle.

“Not only Kohaku, even the small fishes also have Sacred Treasures!? …Where in the world they got all of that? Iori is one thing, but Torazou won’t last long.”

Kanae immediately attempted to help Torazou. However Kohaku beat her to a punch―

“Kanae-kaichou’s opponent is this one!! …Freeze and lock, <Murasame>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Kirisame Ranbu|Drizzle Rain Boisterous Dance}}!!”

Kohaku drew one katana from the seven pieces of katana that she had on her body. When drops of water were hanging down from the blades of the katana, in the blink of an eye those drops transformed into water vapor, next it froze and countless numbers of glistening blades of ice was formed.

“Go!” ―Answering Kohaku’s will, the blades of ice rushed Kanae like a blizzard.

Kanae Foresighted the magic phenomenon and evaded the flying ice blades comfortably.

Kanae was cornered further and further away from Torazou, the situation unavoidably turned into an one-on-one fight with Kohaku.

While floating a daring smile, Kohaku drew out one more katana.

“Pierce the far away, <Doutanuki>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Tenran Kamaitachi|Sky Tempest Scythe Weasel}}!!”

Kohaku swung her katana, from there a sharp wind blew violently. It was a blade of wind invisible to the eyes, but Kanae evaded it with the prided Foresight of Hayashizaki style.

In Kohaku’s right hand was Murasame, in her left hand was Doutanuki, she operated both of them at the same time, driving away Kanae with ice and wind blades.

The situation developed into a barrage of two layers long range attack that limited the place that Kanae could escape, it surely was a bullet hell of swords.

Even Kanae couldn’t avoid them all, many blades grazed her and the light of defensive magic power was scattered.

But Kanae slipped amongst the gaps of the barrage and somehow approached near Kohaku.

Anyway Kanae didn’t have any method of attack if she was not in close range.

When Kanae approached until the [middle range], Kohaku quickly stored both the Sacred Treasures in her hands back to its sheath―this time her hand reached the large war sword she carried on her back. That Sacred Treasure’s length reached almost two meters, she pulled it out with the assistance of Psychokinesis in one breath.

“Crush them to death, <Taroudachi>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Ashura Ryoudan|Ashura Bisection}}!!”

While shouting in one stroke, Kohaku poured her magic power into the large war sword.

The blade of the Taroudachi absorbed the magic power and grew large up to several dozen times.

“!?”

Kanae swallowed her breath in shock.

Kanae use her Foresight. Predicting what would happen next, she suddenly put a brake on her movement and changed into evasive maneuver. Even so―she didn’t make it in time.

The gigantified Taroudachi’s attack range was so vast Kanae couldn’t evade it even with Foresight!

BUUUUUUUN! Taroudachi howled, Kanae was blown away like a single thread by the sweeping slash that drew a gigantic arc.

Kanae immediately performed an ukemi<ref>Art of falling safely</ref> and stood back, the range between the two returned back to [long range].

Kohaku sheathed back Taroudachi into the sheath on her back and changed once again with Murasame and Doutanuki.

She used Murasame and Doutanuki when there was a large distance from her opponent, if the opponent managed to slip through them, she would pull out Taroudachi. Like that Kanae wasn’t allowed to launch a close-range attack at all.

The innermost secret of sword art was distance. Kohaku had gained total supremacy of distance and obtained an overwhelming upper hand on Kanae.

“Kanae-kaichou…you’re certainly the strongest swordsman. However, you’re just a swordsman from ancient era that keep using normal katana with stupid honesty. Attempting to become stronger than Magica Stigma with that seedy-looking kodachi with painful efforts alone…this one will show you, this one will create a new era where there would be no more pitiful swordsman like you.”

“Obtaining clever power by outside assistance of weapon, you got carried away too much just by that huh.”

Kanae talked while spitting out from her mouth, looked like the cloud of dust entered her mouth when she performed the ukemi.

“Certainly the Sacred Treasure might be a helpful weapon, but your method won’t change anything in the society.”

“…What kind of fault is there in this one’s great cause?”

“You keep saying great cause great cause, but your true feelings that [you hate the Magic Division] is transparent. You will only manage to stir resistance from the other side without making them understand anything. However you also won’t be able to subdue the Magica Stigma even if you seriously use force against them. You blockhead. You who only relied on Sacred Treasure won’t be able to win against Kaguya even if you challenged her ten thousand times. Well, though you will lose to me in this place even before that.”

“You can still make such shameless declarations like a poor loser even in that sorry state!”

Kohaku swung both Murasame and Doutanuki at the same time and discontinued their dialogue.

The barrage of ice blades and wind sword attacked Kanae once again. Kanae sheathed her kodachi and started running with all her strength.

Iai stance…? What was she planning to do…?

Without even overlooking any slight change, Kohaku tried to look for Kanae’s aim.

Hayashizaki-style originally was a school of Iaijutsu.

But to compensate for her powerlessness with the number of attacks, Kanae normally used the stance of two swords style.

However―if she thought about dodging the magic that flew about in the battlefield and approach the enemy, she could dash even faster in the state where her swords were sheathed. That was the essential aim of Hayashizaki-style’s Iaijutsu.

In short, she planned to sacrifice the number of attacks in favor of speed.

The reality was that Kanae who dashed while swinging her hands had accelerated even more exceptionally compared from before.

“Your methods are mistaken! You should wait for a kind person like Nii-sama to connect both the Sword Division and the Magic Division! Actually the distance between the Sword Division and the Magic Division are shrinking right now. Kaguya too is trying to compromise. But you don’t want to understand that because of your childish pride. You declared a dignified great cause, but in the end you just want the Magic Division to submit to you!”

While dashing like a wind, Kanae blamed Kohaku severely.

Those words pierced Kohaku’s chest like a thorn. She only wanted to make the Magic Division submit…it would be a lie if she said that there was no such dark sentiments inside her.

“You saying things like that, are you saying that with Kazuki’s method anything and everything will go smoothly!? This brocon Kaichou!!”

“Certainly there is a strong brocon bias in my eye, but at least there is no feeling of hate towards anyone in Nii-sama! That’s why he can give good influences to his surrounding people!! Compared to the misunderstood you who is only invincible when you have Sacred Treasure, you are shamefully conceited!!”

Kanae slipped through Murasame and Doutanuki’s barrage and drew near Kohaku once more.

“Ashura Ryoudan!!”

Kohaku switched Sacred Treasure and perform a similar slash like before with Taroudachi.

It was unavoidable even with the current Kanae’s speed. Kanae unsheathed her kodachi and chose to block the gigantic slash. But that was a reckless attempt.

Kanae couldn’t block Taroudachi and was blown far away.

…Even if she became a little faster and whatever she shouted were not a problem at all.

The blown away Kanae stood up in stagger.

“If you turn to violence, then the Magic Division and the Sword Division will return back to their gloomy relation. Whatever Nii-sama had done will come to nothing. That’s why I’m going to stop you. Your sham great cause is only a bother…!”

“Are you going to keep sermonizing with that condescending attitude even though your hands and legs have been giving out?”

“Fun…I’m going to accelerate a little bit more.”

Was she a sore loser…?

The moment Kohaku still doubted her ear, the <Storm Cat> Hayashizaki Kanae was kicking the ground once more.

‘Byun!’, that small body was [accelerating] even further.

Was she still concealing her full power!? …Kohaku was taken aback, however nothing would change with Kanae becoming just a little faster. She restrained her with Murasame and Doutanuki once more, lured her out, and then made her the prey of Taroudachi!

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

“What!?”

Kanae entered her fighting spirit into her loud scream and clashed her Iai towards the <Ashura Ryodan> that Kohaku swung.

Kanae’s Iai draw didn’t have the power to repel Taroudachi back.

However she diverted the trajectory of the side sweep slightly above.

And then with the gap that was formed between the blade and the ground, Kanae slipped through with a cat-like low posture.

Kohaku felt a chill in her spine. Kanae had drew near…until the range of kodachi!

Kohaku immediately released a kick. Kanae who charged ahead with a forced posture couldn’t avoid it, she received the blow fully from the front and drew back.

Kohaku back-stepped in panic and created a [long range] distance between them.

The defense and offense returned right to their starting point.

However…she had allowed her to get close?

Kanae’s damage had been piling up and most of her magic power had been shaved off. Her breath was rough from her mental tiredness and her body was wobbling.

Despite all that, her movement hadn’t declined. On the contrary she was accelerating. Her eyes were still not dead, her eyes were glaring at Kohaku with ominous light.

Kohaku shuddered with fear against that figure.

The sensation was as if she was facing against a naked blade.

“…It had been a long time since I really wanted to defeat an enemy in front of my eyes from the bottom of my heart in a serious match…. I cannot get this kind of feeling facing off the kind Nii-sama…fufufu!”

…Don’t tell me this person, was she saying that she was not used to a serious fight and her engine took time to get warmed up? [Hayashizaki Kanae’s seriousness] that hadn’t been discovered because there was no worthy opponent in the Sword Division until now, had it finally woke up in this place!?

…No, Kanae wouldn’t be able to defeat her opponent anymore. Her magic power would be all used up with only one more attack. She was nothing more than a slow starter that had been too late!

Kanae once again kicked the ground and sprinted. She accelerated even further with that explosive power. At first many of the ice and wind blades grazed her, but now nothing hit her anymore.

Kohaku had lured Kanae close enough, so she swung the gigantified Taroudachi.

Kanae once again clashed her Iai draw with her whole body against Taroudachi just like before and altered its trajectory.

And then she slipped under the blade. The strength of her Iai, the speed of her sprint, everything was still increasing compared from before.

This person, does she keep getting stronger the more she is hurt like a zombie!?

Kohaku repeated her previous offense and defense method and released a front kick.

Kanae who had more composure now Foresighted the kick and avoided the kick smoothly with a sidestep.

Kohaku threw away her Taroudachi. She didn’t even have anymore leisure to sheathe the sword in her back.

And then she unsheathed another Sacred Treasure.

“Run beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―{{furigana|Getsuei no Dachi|Long Sword of Moonlight|\}}!!”

The new Sacred Treasure she used was something for close-quarter combat.

The moment she gripped the hilt of the katana, it produced a slash that drew an arc of crescent moon. Kohaku didn’t even need to swing the blade consciously. Transcending speed, it produced the result even before the attack was released, a magic sword that reversed the cause and effect.

However Kanae evaded that attack. ―In front of Hayashizaki-style’s Foresight, the speed of the attack was not a problem.

Kanae who evaded the crescent shadow of the sword slipped into Kohaku’s flank with speed that left an afterimage behind.

In that state where they crossed paths, ‘ZUBA!ZUBA!’ two streak of slash carved apart Kohaku.

When Kohaku turned back, Kanae’s figure was not there anymore.

Only the sounds of the footsteps kicking the ground and dashing away echoed from somewhere. Kanae accelerated even faster.

“Damn―!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around at random. The black shadow slipped through her attacks, slashes visited her when they passed each other.

At last they entered a close quarter combat…! Moreover, the pace became even faster from before!

When the sound of braking ‘ZUZAAAAAAA!’ entered Kohaku’s ear, immediately the sound of ground-kicking was heard leaving only the sounds of footsteps behind. Kanae ran around her with the speed that she really couldn’t catch, sharp slash visited her every time Kanae passed through.

Kanae was not only fast. She Foresighted Kohaku’s line of sight’s movement and dashed to her blindspot.

It was useless to rely on eyes dealing with this sword dance.

However, her current self’s training in {{furigana|Extra Sense|Senses Reinforcement Magic}} was insufficient…!

Kanae’s slashes were light, the damages of each attack were small. Just with those, Kohaku tasted humiliation because she was continued to be cut so one-sidedly.

“This is absurd-!”

Kohaku swung Mikadzuki Munechika around blindly.

Thoughts of resignation that she couldn’t win flashed in her mind.

She believed that she could win even against Otonashi Kaguya as long as she used Sacred Treasure. However…

“…First year brat, has your heart broke?...”

The black shadow left behind ridiculing laughter each time it passed. That form was not reflected in her eyes, only the footsteps echoed around her. Kohaku’s mind turned pure white from the shame of having her inside seen through.

Shit, who is the one that’s going to give up! Her plan had already started to move!!

“Burn the ascetics, <Nobukuni>! Battou Kaikon―Kannabi no Tachi!!”

Wind of flames blew in Kohaku’s surroundings to protect around her.

Kanae stepped for a hasty brake because of the sudden obstruction of the wind of flames.

Both Kohaku and Kanae opened their eyes wide from the sudden development. Kanae’s godspeed had been interrupted, in that instant―

“Scream your rejection, <Sukehiro>! Battou Kaikon―Touranjin!!”

A blade of thin and white water pressure pierced Kanae’s defensive magic power.

Kanae’s magic power hit rock bottom, she went down on her knees because of the abuse she forced on her body by her magic.

What just happened?

When she looked around the night battlefield―both Torazou and Iori had already used up all their strengths and collapsed.

This was a three-on-three fight.

“…I didn’t make it in time huh.”

Kanae fell into the ground while squeezing out those words. Kohaku looked down on the collapsed Kanae who was supposed to overwhelmed her while doubting her own eyes.

“…Somehow or other…this is this one’s victory, Kanae-kaichou.”

Kohaku forcibly put on a smile of triumph on her face.

Can this one say that she really won? That discord welled up inside her heart.

“Surely you won’t say that you won’t recognize your defeat. From here on this one is the student council president. This one proclaimed victory, if you are not going to deny it, then the change of administration is done.”

“Well, that was an interesting fight for sure.” The collapsed Kanae replied in a subdued tone.

“I can’t really get serious without killing intent, so it had been a long time since I can fight like this.”

The words she said in the beginning was [an interesting fight], wasn’t it?

This person is even more a [Sword Demon] than Kazuki, that was what Kohaku thought.

“…Because of your offense in carrying an assault against innocent students, you are hereby receiving a suspension from school. Please watch the execution our plan attentively while undergoing house arrest in the student dormitory.”

“Hmph, that kind of thing doesn’t really matter, because Kaguya or Nii-sama are going to stop you somehow. Aaah, geez! I want to meet Nii-sama quickly―!!”

Kanae looked up to the night sky and yelled while it seemed she was really serious about not caring what course of events were going to develop in the future.

―In this night, the Sword Division student council was dismantled by Hayashizaki Kanae’s order.

===Part 3===

Hiakari Koyuki saw a dream.

Magic intoxication―Humans who demanded for magic power surpassing their own limit would have their mind dragged in to Astrum and faint. And then their self would be broken apart in pieces and see a dream.

Astrum was the root of people’s mind. When humans are pulled into this empty space that resembles the Mother Sea, their mind wouldn’t be able to preserve their ego and grew weak rapidly inside this infinite space.

Koyuki’s heart was disassembled into many disconnected parts and were scattered and fluttered about in this Astrum.

While Koyuki was drifting inside the darkness with no sky or ground, she viewed her {{furigana|fragments|memories}} blankly.

Her own fragments―that was what she was molded of, memories of her 15 years of life.

Those were cold bygone days that made her froze.

The symptoms started appearing little by little when she was around three years old, that she transformed into an Elf.

It was normal for people to feel disgust and fear for something that held different outward appearance, toward the Elves that were endowed with strong magic power.

Even her own family directed their gaze at Koyuki like they were seeing a repulsive thing.

In those days, the elf’s existence was not understood, they were seen with discrimination by the society as [a thing that was similar with Demon Beast]. Surely it was repulsive how her own parents considered that their own child might be an inhuman monster. It was sorrowful, but Koyuki could understand where they came from.

That was why Koyuki grew up while bearing in mind that [she was a monster]. Ostracized by her own parents since three years old, she lived with determination of being alone forever for the twelve years after.

An enigma appeared when she was 14 years old―at the very least her surroundings had expectations even if it was only for her aptitude in magic. She felt that she had discovered the meaning of her existence.

Even so, she was nothing more than a fighting machine that was only demanded to fight.

A cold draft always drifted in her heart.

However, she encountered people at the Magic Division that might consider her as a comrade.

[Welcome to the Witch Mansion―! Starting from today you are the prospective newcomer of the Witch Mansion you know!? Eh? Am I not feeling repulsed because you’re an elf? Even if you say repulsive…Elf-chan is so cute!! Su―per―cu―teee!! I want to hug you and rub those white cheeks!!”

Otonashi Kaguya. She didn’t fear Koyuki. She had a conviction of her own strength, so there might not be need for her to be scared of an elf.

[Certainly Hiakari-san is unsociable, that’s why the people around you might have a misunderstanding. However I am not misunderstanding Hiakari-san’s kindness!]

Hayashizaki Kazuki. He was trying to understand Koyuki directly from the front. He who was once an orphan couldn’t permit Koyuki who tried to take refuge in the solitude.

Even Koyuki herself felt sympathy secretly toward him that tried hard in the middle of the discriminatory atmosphere in the Magic Division.

[I’ll win against you quick and easy, and prove my suitability as a Rank A―!!]

Amasaki Mio. She regarded Koyuki as a rival annoyingly. She was a similar person to Koyuki in some respect with how her heart relied at her own magic aptitude to support her.

―DOKUN. A hot pulse was running inside this cold mental world. When she thought about them, perhaps she could also grow closer to them by some chance, she embraced such faint hope.

Actually…I don’t want to give up. I really cannot express it through words or through actions, but…!

DOKUN, DOKUN. She felt her own heart grew hot. I still want to keep on by my own will, she felt such strong longing. When Koyuki wanted to return back to the former world, she started to wish strongly.

She struggled in the depths of the mental world. Like she was saying that she was able to rattle as long she still had her limbs. With the pulses as her clues, Koyuki’s consciousness was rising to the surface aiming for her flesh body.

The scattered fragments gathered naturally and her ego was reformed. The sorrowful past entered her eyes once more.

―They too are like your parents who were once kind people, they might betray you. Anxiousness flashed in her mind. It was scary to have your hope betrayed. However she brushed aside her anxiety and strongly wished.

I want to return back to the Witch Mansion…!

And then Koyuki returned to the real world from her magic intoxication.

The cold heart embraced the head of the flesh body. The very intimate senses calmed down her heart.

The light right beside her tore up the darkness, the world extended above and below.

Koyuki opened her eyelids and woke up.

What entered Koyuki’s sight when she woke up was a really incomprehensible scene.

What first entered her sight was an unfamiliar ceiling. When she raised her body, she realized that she wore an unknown pajama. Her surrounding was a Japanese room Koyuki had never seen before….

“Wan―! Kazuki-oniisan, wan, wan! Ku~n♪”

Charlotte Liebenfrau was licking Kazuki’s cheek with [peropero] while making an innocent smiling face. Koyuki who was still dazed from just waking up instantly froze in place.

“Wait a second Kazuki, look at me too! Nyaa! Come on nyaa―!

Mio who was in Kazuki’s other side, even though she looked embarrassed but she was also licking [peropero] Kazuki’s other cheek with determination competitively.

Both girls were wearing dog ears and cat ears respectively, in addition they were also wearing maid uniforms.

“Wai…I said cut this out!” Kazuki was bewildered of having been sandwiched and licked by both of them.

“Kazuki-oniisan, even though you said that but you don’t hate this desu♪” With that Charlotte laughed.

“Kazuki, you’re happy? Ehehe, nyaa―♪” Mio too turned sweet with her feelings unbounded.

Where Koyuki was sleeping was in the corner of the Japanese room on top of a spread out futon. A little distance from where she was sleeping was the unfolding scene of three people who were doing a maniac sex play on top of a spread out futon.

“…What are all of you doing?”

A voice so cold it even surprised herself came out from Koyuki’s mouth. The three jumped in surprise and faced toward her.

“Hiakari-san, you are awake!?” “Wawan!?” “Nyanyanya!?”

The girls shrieked while keeping their animal acting.

“…Can you explain the situation?”

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.03 030.jpg|thumb]]

===Part 4===

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==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission

2015-05-16T04:42:28Z

Armando99: /* Intermission – The Qualification of King */

==Intermission – The Qualification of King==

“Kazu-nii…!? You are there right, you have to be there…!?”

Mio who was lying down on the futon was anxiously calling Kazuki. There was nothing reflected on her eyes, she reached her hand searching for Kazuki, but even that hand couldn’t feel anything.

“It’s fine, I won’t go anywhere.”

But her hearing was still fine, Kazuki talked to reassure her so she could take a short rest. At their side, Lotte was also lying down.

“Are we going to be like this for a long time?”

…Lotte’s condition was also the same. Because of Kaguya-senpai’s sense-stealing scythe…

“No, I don’t think that magic is that brutal. You should recover after a while.”

Kazuki moved his sight to another futon. Over there was Koyuki who was unconscious because of magic intoxication.

The girl created ice boots for several people’s use, and continued to chant the Moves in the Field until the very last minute. In the end, she fainted after finishing with their dramatic escape.

She forced her body and went that far just to help Kazuki.

“I’m sorry. Right now there is no empty room in this dormitory other than this one. The student dormitory in the Magic Division has the standard of one person per room, but the standard in the Sword Division is room sharing. It’s cramped but please bear with it.”

Kohaku apologized while leaning on the wall of the Japanese-style room. But Kazuki was the one who was grateful.

At least there was no other way to protect Lotte than this.

“…Kohaku, why did you help us?”

“Liz Liza-sensei from the Magic Division, she contacted this one’s teacher in the Sword Division…to Tsukahara-sensei.”

Tsukahara-sensei…that glasses teacher wasn’t it?

“When they were still in active duty, Tsukahara-sensei and Liz Liza-sensei’s relationship were as partners in the Heaven and Earth Formation. She couldn’t do anything to help from her position in the Magic Division, so we in the Sword Division received contact from her if we could do anything to help.”

“Liz Liza-sensei was…”

Is that so, not everyone around us had become enemies.

“…It’s a happy event for me to be able to do her a favor. And then I am also able to be responsible for all of you too.”

The door to the room opened―the figure of the person in question, Tsukahara-sensei appeared .

To be responsible for all of us was…a happy thing?

“Fufufu, we are not just helping you free of charge. We will also make use of this at the same time.”

Kohaku made a daring expression while grinning broadly.

“Due to the Magic Division’s scheme, the life of the princess, Charlotte Liebenfrau, who is taking refuge in this country had fallen into danger. We from the Sword Division sheltered Her Highness, and then turned the table on the Magic Division’s student council who had come to aim for her life, using our true strength. On top of that, during the Student General Meeting that will be held in the middle of this month, we will announce the well-being of Charlotte. With that, we will explain that justice and strength are on our side! We are going to increase the distrust for the Magic Division inside the academy, and place the Sword Division in the controlling position for the Knight Academy…the time of revolution has arrived!”

In front of the dumbfounded Kazuki, Kohaku let her speech out while raising her fist.

That kind of absurdity…. However, it certainly might be true that there was no other way to save Lotte other than to announce her well-being to everyone.

But to use that for her ambition to raise the position of the Sword Division to above that of the Magic Division?

“If this one is being honest, this one want Kazuki to give his cooperation too. But thinking about the feelings of Kazuki, who had been in the Magic Division until now, that kind of thing seems impossible. That’s why Kazuki will be confined inside this room for a while, snd this one wants you to watch attentively our revolution when the time comes.”

“…Hey wait, do you plan to win against the student council of the Magic Division with just you guys alone?”

Aainst his better judgment, Kazuki asked. Kohaku laughed with a grin and hit the katana that was fixed on her hips.

“The Sacred Treasures that this one owns are the heirloom of the Hikita family for generations. However, our other comrades are also being equipped by a large amount of Sacred Treasures that were secretly provided by Tsukahara-sensei. The Sacred Treasures brings out the possibility of the swordsman to its maximum limit so, these are the strongest swordsman party! The likes of the Magica Stigma won’t be able to catch up to us. We have continued to amass power for a long time until now, but…right now is the time for us to stand up with Charlotte as the banner of our great cause! The hated Magic Division will capitulate to the Sword Division, and the position of these two is going to be reversed!”

Beside Kohaku, Tsukahara-sensei too showed a broad grinning expression.

“Liz Liza said that there is an [Unnatural power that trapped you]. But with this fight, we will also be able to remove the rot in the Magic Division. We are going to purge all those filth inside the academy staff that had been clinging to their own interest. Even with this country’s treatment regarding the swordsmen, there is going to be changes.”

“We are going to carve out all the persistent stain in the hated Magic Division! Kazuki!, just watch it all obediently, and then please marry me when everything ends. Fuffuffu!”

Both of them left, leaving only those words and exited the room where Kazuki and the others were in.

‘Gachari’ The sound of a locking door rang out. Of course it was a simple matter for Kazuki and the others to use Summoning Magic to destroy a normal door, however…they were going to be noticed immediately.

…What was he supposed to do?

“Ah ah, what an unthinkable situation isn’t it?”

Leme materialized besides Kazuki.

“Everything has gone to hell. Everything lays in pieces! Even though this time, the enemy from the outside has started to bare their fangs here…Magic Division’s student council is hopeless; Magic Division, Sword Division, the whole academy is also hopeless!! Leme is in despair towards these things called humans, don’t you see!?”

Hopeless…. Even though he wholeheartedly thought of the Magic Division’s student council like his own family.

Hiakari-san rescued him. But what was going on with Hoshikaze-senpai?

And then…what would Kanae do? Would she act as a member of Kaguya-senpai’s party?

Would he fight once more with the crying Kaguya-senpai…? Even if he fought, could he win?

But if they follow Kaguya-senpai’s way, Lotte would become the victim. He couldn’t go along with that kind of method.

On the other hand, Kohaku was going to try to challenge the Magic Division to battle, using Lotte as their banner. But Kohaku’s reason was not to save Lotte. …She only wanted the Magic Division’s submission for her revenge.

She was going to inflict a wound that the Magic Division wouldn’t be able to recover from for a second time, in the Students General Meeting.

Could he acknowledge her method?

Could the girl’s action bring the whole academy into one…?

Just like what Leme said, everything was in pieces. In this kind of situation, no matter whose hopeless method he used, someone’s important thing would become a sacrifice inside the conflict.

“Leme…before, you said that the power of the King is the power to <Unite> the scattered pieces as a whole, right?”

When Kazuki calmly asked, Leme's gaze to Kazuki was a testing expression.

“Do you plan to do it, my King. Could you show your caliber as a King to us, to Leme, and and the whole Solomon 72 Pillar by uniting this hopeless academy? But it’s likely impossible for the current you, you know?”

So it came to whether he himself had the power to achieve that or not.

Even the matter of protecting Lotte, he barely succeeded by using his only trump card.

Even though Leme had pushed him for a long time to create a harem, in response to that, he failed to acquire any power…My power is insufficient. My determination is insufficient.

However, even so…Mio, and Lotte too, I want to protect them.

And then…there are other things that I also want to protect.

There are things I want to protect at any cost….

“Kaguya-senpai, Kohaku too―I will stop all of them. I won’t let anyone become a victim.”

Kazuki gazed at the three who were unconscious. He was not alone. His comrades were standing beside him reliably.

Not only the Magic Division, the Sword Division too, I will bring everything together―

I will put this whole academy together―I will become a King.

I am the Swordsman of the Magic Division.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Afterword|Afterword]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission

2015-05-16T04:30:26Z

Armando99: /* Intermission – The Qualification of King */

==Intermission – The Qualification of King==

“Kazu-nii…!? You are there right, you have to be there…!?”

Mio who was lying down on the futon was anxiously calling Kazuki. There was nothing reflected on her eyes, she reached her hand searching for Kazuki, but even that hand couldn’t feel anything.

“It’s fine, I won’t go anywhere.”

But her hearing was still fine, Kazuki talked to reassure her so she could take a short rest. At their side, Lotte was also lying down.

“Are we going to be like this for a long time?”

…Lotte’s condition was also the same. Because of Kaguya-senpai’s sense-stealing scythe…

“No, I don’t think that magic is that brutal. You should recover after a while.”

Kazuki moved his sight to another futon. Over there was Koyuki who was unconscious because of magic intoxication.

The girl created ice boots for several people’s use, and continued to chant the Moves in the Field until the very last minute. In the end, she fainted after finishing with their dramatic escape.

She forced her body and went that far just to help Kazuki.

“I’m sorry. Right now there is no empty room in this dormitory other than this one. The student dormitory in the Magic Division has the standard of one person per room, but the standard in the Sword Division is room sharing. It’s cramped but please bear with it.”

Kohaku apologized while leaning on the wall of the Japanese-style room. But Kazuki was the one who was grateful.

At least there was no other way to protect Lotte than this.

“…Kohaku, why did you help us?”

“Liz Liza-sensei from the Magic Division, she contacted this one’s teacher in the Sword Division…to Tsukahara-sensei.”

Tsukahara-sensei…that glasses teacher wasn’t it?

“When they were still in active duty, Tsukahara-sensei and Liz Liza-sensei’s relationship were as partners in the Heaven and Earth Formation. She couldn’t do anything to help from her position in the Magic Division, so we in the Sword Division received contact from her if we could do anything to help.”

“Liz Liza-sensei was…”

Is that so, not everyone around us had become enemies.

“…It’s a happy event for me to be able to do her a favor. And then I am also able to be responsible for all of you too.”

The door to the room opened―the figure of the person in question, Tsukahara-sensei appeared .

To be responsible for all of us was…a happy thing?

“Fufufu, we are not just helping you free of charge. We will also make use of this at the same time.”

Kohaku made a daring expression while grinning broadly.

“Due to the Magic Division’s scheme, the life of the princess, Charlotte Liebenfrau, who is taking refuge in this country had fallen into danger. We from the Sword Division sheltered Her Highness, and then turned the table on the Magic Division’s student council who had come to aim for her life, using our true strength. On top of that, during the Student General Meeting that will be held in the middle of this month, we will announce the well-being of Charlotte. With that, we will explain that justice and strength are on our side! We are going to increase the distrust for the Magic Division inside the academy, and place the Sword Division in the controlling position for the Knight Academy…the time of revolution has arrived!”

In front of the dumbfounded Kazuki, Kohaku let her speech out while raising her fist.

That kind of absurdity…. However, it certainly might be true that there was no other way to save Lotte other than to announce her well-being to everyone.

But to use that for her ambition to raise the position of the Sword Division to above that of the Magic Division?

“If this one is being honest, this one want Kazuki to give his cooperation too. But thinking about the feelings of Kazuki, who had been in the Magic Division until now, that kind of thing seems impossible. That’s why Kazuki will be confined inside this room for a while, snd this one wants you to watch attentively our revolution when the time comes.”

“…Hey wait, do you plan to win against the student council of the Magic Division with just you guys alone?”

Aainst his better judgment, Kazuki asked. Kohaku laughed with a grin and hit the katana that was fixed on her hips.

“The Sacred Treasures that this one owns are the heirloom of the Hikita family for generations. However, our other comrades are also being equipped by a large amount of Sacred Treasures that were secretly provided by Tsukahara-sensei. The Sacred Treasures brings out the possibility of the swordsman to its maximum limit so, these are the strongest swordsman party! The likes of the Magica Stigma won’t be able to catch up to us. We have continued to amass power for a long time until now, but…right now is the time for us to stand up with Charlotte as the banner of our great cause! The hated Magic Division will capitulate to the Sword Division, and the position of these two is going to be reversed!”

Beside Kohaku, Tsukahara-sensei too showed a broad grinning expression.

“Liz Liza said that there is an [Unnatural power that trapped you]. But with this fight, we will also be able to remove the rot in the Magic Division. We are going to purge all those filth inside the academy staff that had been clinging to their own interest. Even with this country’s treatment regarding the swordsmen, there is going to be changes.”

“We are going to carve out all the persistent stain in the hated Magic Division! Kazuki!, just watch it all obediently, and then please marry me when everything ends. Fuffuffu!”

Both of them left, leaving only those words and exited the room where Kazuki and the others were in.

‘Gachari’ The sound of a locking door rang out. Of course it was a simple matter for Kazuki and the others to use Summoning Magic to destroy a normal door, however…they were going to be noticed immediately.

…What was he supposed to do?

“Ah ah, what an unthinkable situation isn’t it?”

Leme materialized besides Kazuki.

“Everything has gone to hell. Everything lays in pieces! Even though this time, the enemy from the outside has started to bare their fangs here…Magic Division’s student council is hopeless; Magic Division, Sword Division, the whole academy is also hopeless!! Leme is in despair towards these things called humans, don’t you see!?”

Hopeless…. Even though he wholeheartedly thought of the Magic Division’s student council like his own family.

Hiakari-san rescued him. But what was going on with Hoshikaze-senpai?

And then…what would Kanae do? Would she act as a member of Kaguya-senpai’s party?

Would he fight once more with the crying Kaguya-senpai…? Even if he fought, could he win?

But if they follow Kaguya-senpai’s way, Lotte would become the victim. He couldn’t go along with that kind of method.

On the other side, Kohaku was going to try to challenge the Magic Division to battle using Lotte as their banner. But Kohaku’s reason was not to save Lotte. …She only wanted the Magic Division’s submission for her revenge.

She was going to deliver a wound that the Magic Division wouldn’t be able to recover from for a second time in the Students General Meeting.

Could he acknowledge her method?

Could the girl’s method bring the whole academy into one…?

Just like what Leme said, everything was in pieces. In this kind of situation, no matter whose hopeless method he used, someone’s important thing would become a sacrifice inside the strife.

“Leme…before you said that the power of King is the power to <Unite> the scattered pieces into a whole thing right?”

When Kazuki calmly asked, Leme gazed to Kazuki with a testing expression.

“Do you plan to do it, my King. Could you show your caliber as a King to us, to Leme and and the whole Solomon 72 Pillar by uniting this hopeless academy? But it’s likely impossible for the current you, you know?”

So it came to whether he himself had the power to achieve that or not.

Even the matter of protecting Lotte, he could barely succeed only by using his trump card.

Even though Leme had pushed him for a long time to create a harem, but in response to that he failed to acquire any power…My power is insufficient. My determination is insufficient.

However, even so…Mio, and Lotte too, I want to protect them.

And then…there are other things that I also want to protect.

There are things I want to protect at any cost….

“Kaguya-senpai, Kohaku too―I will stop all of them. I won’t let anyone become a victim.”

Kazuki gaze at the three who were unconscious. He was not alone. His comrades were standing beside him reliably.

Not only the Magic Division, the Sword Division too, I will bring everything together―

I will put this whole academy together―I will become a King.

I am the Swordsman of the Magic Division.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Afterword|Afterword]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission

2015-05-16T04:13:35Z

Armando99: /* Intermission – The Qualification of King */

==Intermission – The Qualification of King==

“Kazu-nii…!? You are there right, you have to be there…!?”

Mio who was lying down on the futon was anxiously calling Kazuki. There was nothing reflected on her eyes, she reached her hand searching for Kazuki, but even that hand couldn’t feel anything.

“It’s fine, I won’t go anywhere.”

But her hearing was still fine, Kazuki talked to reassure her so she could take a short rest. At their side, Lotte was also lying down.

“Are we going to be like this for a long time?”

…Lotte’s condition was also the same. Because of Kaguya-senpai’s sense-stealing scythe…

“No, I don’t think that magic is that brutal. You should recover after a while.”

Kazuki moved his sight to another futon. Over there was Koyuki who was unconscious because of magic intoxication.

The girl created ice boots for several people’s use, and continued to chant the Moves in the Field until the very last minute. In the end, she fainted after finishing with their dramatic escape.

She forced her body and went that far just to help Kazuki.

“I’m sorry. Right now there is no empty room in this dormitory other than this one. The student dormitory in the Magic Division has the standard of one person per room, but the standard in the Sword Division is room sharing. It’s cramped but please bear with it.”

Kohaku apologized while leaning on the wall of the Japanese-style room. But Kazuki was the one who was grateful.

At least there was no other way to protect Lotte than this.

“…Kohaku, why did you help us?”

“Liz Liza-sensei from the Magic Division, she contacted this one’s teacher in the Sword Division…to Tsukahara-sensei.”

Tsukahara-sensei…that glasses teacher wasn’t it?

“When they were still in active duty, Tsukahara-sensei and Liz Liza-sensei’s relationship were as partners in the Heaven and Earth Formation. She couldn’t do anything to help from her position in the Magic Division, so we in the Sword Division received contact from her if we could do anything to help.”

“Liz Liza-sensei was…”

Is that so, not everyone around us had become enemies.

“…It’s a happy event for me to be able to do her a favor. And then I am also able to be responsible for all of you too.”

The door to the room opened―the figure of the person in question, Tsukahara-sensei appeared .

To be responsible for all of us was…a happy thing?

“Fufufu, we are not just helping you free of charge. We will also make use of this at the same time.”

Kohaku made a daring expression while grinning broadly.

“Due to the Magic Division’s scheme, the life of the princess, Charlotte Liebenfrau, who is taking refuge in this country had fallen into danger. We from the Sword Division sheltered Her Highness, and then turned the table on the Magic Division’s student council who had come to aim for her life, using our true strength. On top of that, during the Student General Meeting that will be held in the middle of this month, we will announce the well-being of Charlotte. With that, we will explain that justice and strength are on our side! We are going to increase the distrust for the Magic Division inside the academy, and place the Sword Division in the controlling position for the Knight Academy…the time of revolution has arrived!”

In front of the dumbfounded Kazuki, Kohaku let her speech out while raising her fist.

That kind of absurdity…. However, it certainly might be true that there was no other way to save Lotte other than to announce her well-being to everyone.

But to use that for her ambition to raise the position of the Sword Division to above the Magic Division?

“If this one is being honest, this one want Kazuki to give his cooperation too, but thinking about the feelings of Kazuki who had been in the Magic Division until now, that kind of thing seems impossible. That’s why Kazuki will be confined inside this room for a while, this one wants you to watch attentively our revolution when the time come.”

“…Hey wait, do you plan to win against the student council of the Magic Division only with you guys alone?”

When Kazuki asked against his better judgment, Kohaku laughed with a grin and hit the katana that was fixed on her hips.

“The Sacred Treasures that this one owned are the heirloom of the Hikita family for generations, however our other comrades are also being equipped by a large amount of Sacred Treasures that were provided by Tsukahara-sensei secretly. The Sacred Treasures pull out the possibility of the swordsman to its maximum limit, these are the strongest swordsman party! The likes of the Magica Stigma won’t be able to catch up to us. We have continued to amass power for a long time until now, but…right now is the time for us to stand up with Charlotte as the banner of our great cause! The hated Magic Division will capitulate to the Sword Division, the position of these two is going to be reversed!”

Beside Kohaku, Tsukahara-sensei too showed a broad grinning expression.

“Liz Liza said that there is an [Unnatural power that trapped you]. But this fight will also be able to remove the rot in the Magic Division. We are going to purge all those filth inside the academy staff that had been clinging to their own interest. Even this country’s treatment regarding the swordsmen, there is going to be change.”

“We are going to carve out all the persistent stain in the hated Magic Division! Kazuki just watch it all obediently, and then please marry me when everything end. Fuffuffu!”

Both of them left leaving only those words and exited from the room where Kazuki and the others remained.

‘Gachari’ The sound of locking door rang out. Of course it was a simple matter for Kazuki and the others to use Summoning Magic to destroy a normal door, however…they were going to be noticed immediately.

…What was he supposed to do?

“Ah ah, what an unthinkable situation isn’t it?”

Leme materialized besides Kazuki.

“Everything has gone to hell. Everything lays in pieces! Even though in this time the enemy from outside has started to bare their fangs here…Magic Division’s student council is hopeless; Magic Division, Sword Division, the whole academy is also hopeless!! Leme is in despair toward these things called humans don’t you see!?”

Hopeless…. Even though he wholeheartedly thought of the Magic Division’s student council like his own family.

Hiakari-san rescued him. But what was going on with Hoshikaze-senpai?

And then…what would Kanae do? Would she act as the member of Kaguya-senpai’s party?

Would he fight once more with the crying Kaguya-senpai…? Even if he fought, could he win?

But if they follow Kaguya-senpai’s way, Lotte would become the victim. He couldn’t go along with that kind of method.

On the other side, Kohaku was going to try to challenge the Magic Division to battle using Lotte as their banner. But Kohaku’s reason was not to save Lotte. …She only wanted the Magic Division’s submission for her revenge.

She was going to deliver a wound that the Magic Division wouldn’t be able to recover from for a second time in the Students General Meeting.

Could he acknowledge her method?

Could the girl’s method bring the whole academy into one…?

Just like what Leme said, everything was in pieces. In this kind of situation, no matter whose hopeless method he used, someone’s important thing would become a sacrifice inside the strife.

“Leme…before you said that the power of King is the power to <Unite> the scattered pieces into a whole thing right?”

When Kazuki calmly asked, Leme gazed to Kazuki with a testing expression.

“Do you plan to do it, my King. Could you show your caliber as a King to us, to Leme and and the whole Solomon 72 Pillar by uniting this hopeless academy? But it’s likely impossible for the current you, you know?”

So it came to whether he himself had the power to achieve that or not.

Even the matter of protecting Lotte, he could barely succeed only by using his trump card.

Even though Leme had pushed him for a long time to create a harem, but in response to that he failed to acquire any power…My power is insufficient. My determination is insufficient.

However, even so…Mio, and Lotte too, I want to protect them.

And then…there are other things that I also want to protect.

There are things I want to protect at any cost….

“Kaguya-senpai, Kohaku too―I will stop all of them. I won’t let anyone become a victim.”

Kazuki gaze at the three who were unconscious. He was not alone. His comrades were standing beside him reliably.

Not only the Magic Division, the Sword Division too, I will bring everything together―

I will put this whole academy together―I will become a King.

I am the Swordsman of the Magic Division.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Afterword|Afterword]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission

2015-05-16T03:59:20Z

Armando99: /* Intermission – The Qualification of King */

==Intermission – The Qualification of King==

“Kazu-nii…!? You are there right, you have to be there…!?”

Mio who was lying down on the futon was anxiously calling Kazuki. There was nothing reflected on her eyes, she reached her hand searching for Kazuki, but even that hand couldn’t feel anything.

“It’s fine, I won’t go anywhere.”

But her hearing was still fine, Kazuki talked to reassure her so she could take a short rest. At their side, Lotte was also lying down.

“Are we going to be like this for a long time?”

…Lotte’s condition was also the same. Because of Kaguya-senpai’s sense-stealing scythe…

“No, I don’t think that magic is that brutal. You should recover after a while.”

Kazuki moved his sight to another futon. Over there was Koyuki who was unconscious because of magic intoxication.

The girl created ice boots for several people’s use, and continued to chant the Moves in the Field until the very last minute. In the end, she fainted after finishing with their dramatic escape.

She forced her body and went that far just to help Kazuki.

“I’m sorry. Right now there is no empty room in this dormitory other than this one. The student dormitory in the Magic Division has the standard of one person per room, but the standard in the Sword Division is room sharing. It’s cramped but please bear with it.”

Kohaku apologized while leaning on the wall of the Japanese-style room. But Kazuki was the one who was grateful.

At least there was no other way to protect Lotte than this.

“…Kohaku, why did you help us?”

“Liz Liza-sensei from the Magic Division, she contacted this one’s teacher in the Sword Division…to Tsukahara-sensei.”

Tsukahara-sensei…that glasses teacher wasn’t it?

“When they were still in active duty, Tsukahara-sensei and Liz Liza-sensei’s relationship were as partners in the Heaven and Earth Formation. She couldn’t do anything to help from her position in the Magic Division, so we in the Sword Division received contact from her if we could do anything to help.”

“Liz Liza-sensei was…”

Is that so, not everyone around us had become enemies.

“…It’s a happy event for me to be able to do her a favor. And then I am also able to be responsible for all of you too.”

The door to the room opened―the figure of the person in question, Tsukahara-sensei appeared .

To be responsible for all of us was…a happy thing?

“Fufufu, we are not just helping you free of charge. We will also make use of this at the same time.”

Kohaku made a daring expression while grinning broadly.

“Due to the Magic Division’s scheme, the life of the princess, Charlotte Liebenfrau, who is taking refugee in this country had fallen into danger. Us from the Sword Division sheltered Her Highness, then we turned the table on the Magic Division’s student council who had came to aim for her life by our true strength. On top of that, in the Student General Meeting that will be opened in the middle of this month, we will announced the well-being of Charlotte. With that we will explain that justice and strength are on our side! We are going to increase the distrust to the Magic Division inside the academy, and place the Sword Division in the position of control of the Knight Academy…the time of revolution has arrived!”

In front of the dumbfounded Kazuki, Kohaku let out her speech while raising her fist.

That kind of absurdity…. However, certainly it might be true that there was no other way to save Lotte other than to announce her well-being extensively.

But to use that for her ambition to raise the position of the Sword Division to above the Magic Division?

“If this one is being honest, this one want Kazuki to give his cooperation too, but thinking about the feelings of Kazuki who had been in the Magic Division until now, that kind of thing seems impossible. That’s why Kazuki will be confined inside this room for a while, this one wants you to watch attentively our revolution when the time come.”

“…Hey wait, do you plan to win against the student council of the Magic Division only with you guys alone?”

When Kazuki asked against his better judgment, Kohaku laughed with a grin and hit the katana that was fixed on her hips.

“The Sacred Treasures that this one owned are the heirloom of the Hikita family for generations, however our other comrades are also being equipped by a large amount of Sacred Treasures that were provided by Tsukahara-sensei secretly. The Sacred Treasures pull out the possibility of the swordsman to its maximum limit, these are the strongest swordsman party! The likes of the Magica Stigma won’t be able to catch up to us. We have continued to amass power for a long time until now, but…right now is the time for us to stand up with Charlotte as the banner of our great cause! The hated Magic Division will capitulate to the Sword Division, the position of these two is going to be reversed!”

Beside Kohaku, Tsukahara-sensei too showed a broad grinning expression.

“Liz Liza said that there is an [Unnatural power that trapped you]. But this fight will also be able to remove the rot in the Magic Division. We are going to purge all those filth inside the academy staff that had been clinging to their own interest. Even this country’s treatment regarding the swordsmen, there is going to be change.”

“We are going to carve out all the persistent stain in the hated Magic Division! Kazuki just watch it all obediently, and then please marry me when everything end. Fuffuffu!”

Both of them left leaving only those words and exited from the room where Kazuki and the others remained.

‘Gachari’ The sound of locking door rang out. Of course it was a simple matter for Kazuki and the others to use Summoning Magic to destroy a normal door, however…they were going to be noticed immediately.

…What was he supposed to do?

“Ah ah, what an unthinkable situation isn’t it?”

Leme materialized besides Kazuki.

“Everything has gone to hell. Everything lays in pieces! Even though in this time the enemy from outside has started to bare their fangs here…Magic Division’s student council is hopeless; Magic Division, Sword Division, the whole academy is also hopeless!! Leme is in despair toward these things called humans don’t you see!?”

Hopeless…. Even though he wholeheartedly thought of the Magic Division’s student council like his own family.

Hiakari-san rescued him. But what was going on with Hoshikaze-senpai?

And then…what would Kanae do? Would she act as the member of Kaguya-senpai’s party?

Would he fight once more with the crying Kaguya-senpai…? Even if he fought, could he win?

But if they follow Kaguya-senpai’s way, Lotte would become the victim. He couldn’t go along with that kind of method.

On the other side, Kohaku was going to try to challenge the Magic Division to battle using Lotte as their banner. But Kohaku’s reason was not to save Lotte. …She only wanted the Magic Division’s submission for her revenge.

She was going to deliver a wound that the Magic Division wouldn’t be able to recover from for a second time in the Students General Meeting.

Could he acknowledge her method?

Could the girl’s method bring the whole academy into one…?

Just like what Leme said, everything was in pieces. In this kind of situation, no matter whose hopeless method he used, someone’s important thing would become a sacrifice inside the strife.

“Leme…before you said that the power of King is the power to <Unite> the scattered pieces into a whole thing right?”

When Kazuki calmly asked, Leme gazed to Kazuki with a testing expression.

“Do you plan to do it, my King. Could you show your caliber as a King to us, to Leme and and the whole Solomon 72 Pillar by uniting this hopeless academy? But it’s likely impossible for the current you, you know?”

So it came to whether he himself had the power to achieve that or not.

Even the matter of protecting Lotte, he could barely succeed only by using his trump card.

Even though Leme had pushed him for a long time to create a harem, but in response to that he failed to acquire any power…My power is insufficient. My determination is insufficient.

However, even so…Mio, and Lotte too, I want to protect them.

And then…there are other things that I also want to protect.

There are things I want to protect at any cost….

“Kaguya-senpai, Kohaku too―I will stop all of them. I won’t let anyone become a victim.”

Kazuki gaze at the three who were unconscious. He was not alone. His comrades were standing beside him reliably.

Not only the Magic Division, the Sword Division too, I will bring everything together―

I will put this whole academy together―I will become a King.

I am the Swordsman of the Magic Division.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6|Chapter 6]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Afterword|Afterword]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-14T06:55:51Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him that much.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

“The magic you can use increases along with the rise of the positivity level and when you kiss someone, you’ll be able to use their magic even up to level 10, once…?”

Mio and Lotte were dumbfounded at Kazuki’s explanation.

“I didn’t kiss Lotte just for the sake of power okay? I did it with proper determination…”

“It’s okay desu, I understand that well desu, Onii-san.”

The girl had the power of telepathy. She understood Kazuki’s real intention.

“Besides, I didn't hate it at all to be kissed…”

Mio’s expression turned disagreeable looking at Lotte whose cheeks were blushing.

“For the sake of protecting Lotte, even kissing her with the determination to keep protecting her…certainly that was, when you have that kind of ability, in that kind of situation there was no other way except to kiss her, but, really, why it must be a kiss…”

Mio moaned “Uuuuu” and pouted.

“Then if I’m the one who is in the same situation, Kazu-nii would also protect me properly right? And, and then Kazu-nii would also…kiss me?”

“Of course I will protect Mio. Now that you mention it…I, I already kissed you, you know?”

“…Eh?”

“Before this, when Loki’s attack hit you, so I could protect Mio…”

“Wait a second! I don’t remember that! I don’t remember that at all!?”

“That was…Mio was already dead at that time.”

Mio pressed her own lips, her face turned red when she thought about the truth that she was already kissed, then her face turned pale white in despair when she realized that matter had all happened when she was not conscious. Her expression alternated between blushing and paling.

“I, I remember seeing a dream of being kissed, but…that was…that had actually happened…? But, but that’s bad, I won’t consent with that!! I also want to do it properly, if Kazu-nii said that you will protect me, then I want you to swear it once again right now right here !”

“But right here…that’s…”

Seeing Kazuki who shrinked back, Lotte spouted out “Puh”.

“That’s right Onii-san…It doesn't count if you gave your oath when the person concerned was not conscious desu.”

Lotte said something to support Mio.

Mio demanded again while glaring at Kazuki with resentful eyes.

“Right now in this place…I want you to kiss me. If you don’t do it, then I won’t believe whatever Kazu-nii is saying about how you consider me as a special person. …I mean, if you had already done it once then it’s not a big deal to do it again right!?”

Kiss Mio once more…. That was a deep and significant action that he wouldn't be able to take back again. It had already reached the point where any excuses wouldn't be heard anymore….

But even so, right now, it was not only the demand from Mio that pushed Kazuki, Mio’s lips had the magic power to fascinate Kazuki’s heart.

“Onii-san…I don’t mind desu. I will believe Onii-san no matter what happens, so I’m satisfied desu.”

Lotte’s word became the feeling that pushed him so, Kazuki took Mio’s chin with his hand. Mio trembled in surprise and closed her eyes.

Kazuki resolved himself and kissed Mio. It was a soft and warm sensation incomparable with anything he ever experienced until now. When their lips separated, Mio stared at Kazuki dazedly, then finally she laughed “hehehe” when she came back to herself.

“Kazu-niii!”

Then Mio hugged Kazuki happily―after that she also returned the kiss from herself to Kazuki.

“Yo, you, that kiss just now…”

“But you know, Kazu-nii protecting me is not just a one-sided affair. Because I’ll also protect Kazu-nii! That’s why…I will also swear with this kiss…”

A heart mark floated from Mio. When she felt satisfied, she gently separated their body from each other.

“Then I will also protect Kazuki-oniisan with my all!”

In the next moment Lotte stretched herself to Kazuki and kissed him.

Wa, wait a minute, what is this situation!? How could it be in this short time he had already received so many kisses from two girls…! This kind of thing is completely like…!

{Kazuki…you are, right in this moment, showing off your real face as the harem King!}

Mio hugged Kazuki’s right arm with a pouting face. Thereupon Lotte hugged Kazuki’s left arm. Both of their positivity level floated in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

Amasaki Mio―132 Lotte―100

“Well…we are a party that protected each other’s back in the end. …Fo, for now we still couldn't be said as something like lovers.”

“Then I’ll kiss Mio-oneesan too.”

“Eh!? I, I don’t wanna. Even though I had finally kiss with Kazu-nii…Wait, I said wait!”

Lotte played around by chasing Mio who was running away.

“…Even so, the Knight Order hasn't come yet huh.”

Kazuki changed the topic while moving his line of sight to Beatrix who was still fainting.

If the Knight Order doesn't come to collect her quickly, they won’t be able to return home to the Witch’s Mansion. When he thought about Beatrix suddenly waking up like a zombie, he felt really uneasy.

They started fighting at 4 o’clock, the evening passed as if it was Ragnarok, and when they noticed, the curtain of the night had already descended. The street lights illuminated the empty arcade.

“The Knight Order won’t come…so we arrived in their place.”

“…Kaguya-senpai? Why are you here?”

The figures who appeared at the entrance of the shopping arcade were Kaguya-senpai in her magic dress and Torazou-senpai. …Did senpai came in place of the Knight Order to collect Beatrix?

“A quest was handed over to me you know, Otouto-kun.”

She talked from the other side of the night. What is this [quest] senpai was talking about? Right now there was no problem at all in this place. The Haunted Ground had been liberated, Beatrix had been defeated….

What kind of quest was handed down to Kaguya-senpai?

In front of the bewildered Kazuki―Torazou-senpai drew his katana and magic power started to be generated from Kaguya-senpai.

“Kazuki…why did you do something like that!? Was my trust to you misplaced!?”

Torazou-senpai…what is he saying!?

“Oh formless and mute shadow, transform into fish that swim in the darkness of delusion! The origin of nightmare, vicissitudes of materialism, answer and swallow the hope and terror…! {{furigana|Deep Specter|Darkness of the Bottom of Shadow}}!”

Kaguya-senpai’s summoning magic―made it really clear―that it targeted Kazuki.

“Senpai! Why!?”

“I’m sorry but…it will be just a little painful.”

At the same time with senpai’s verdict, from the underfoot of Kazuki―a gigantic monster of shadow rose up. Kazuki perceived the flow of the magic power of the monster that was made from lumps of magic power, his Foresight showed its movement and he evaded, then he drew out his Iai.

He smashed the shadow monster into small pieces with his slash.

“What, what the hell is this!?”

“…Prophet, Fire!”

Mio fell into panic while watching Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai alternately in distress, Lotte determined the situation quickly and rattled the shadow monster with her gatling gun’s bullets.

However, Torazou-senpai stepped towards Lotte and attacked her. She couldn't stop Torazou-senpai’s charge with her gatling gun. In that interval, Kaguya-senpai finished her chant with astonishing speed.

“My wicked thoughts is filled with curses, I prayed in earnest for thy’s pain…. I feel no shame for my ominous thoughts! {{furigana|Feel Pain|The Hatred of Fruitless Flower }}!”

The magic to inflict hallucination of pain to the opponent!

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 228.jpg|thumb]]

The bullet of curse flew not to Kazuki but to Lotte.

“Aa, UAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Hallucination of pain that couldn't even be imagined by the one watching outside was―attacking Lotte until she couldn't keep on her feet, she screamed while her body was shaking all over. Given that chance, Torazou-senpai attempted to pursue her.

“..Barrett!”

Torazou-senpai ate the hastily chanted Barrett by Mio and got blown away.

“Senpai…why!”

Kazuki screamed while feeling the anger because of Lotte’s pain.

“We have to arrest Lotte-chan and…she will die in the hands of Germany. That’s why I must let Lotte-chan escape. I will let you get away. But if you become an obstacle in Otouto-kun’s arrest, I will let you taste a little pain.”

Kaguya-senpai coldly informed Lotte. Lotte who crouched in pain, raised her head sternly even with tears amassing in her eyes.

“No desu! I will also help Onii-san!!”

Kaguya senpai will arrest me…?

“I have to…I have to bear this duty! There is no one else other than me!!”

Kaguya-senpai informed Kazuki with a tormented expression filled with a sense of duty.

{Leme! Is Asmodeus’ magic going to be effective against me too!?}

{A contract is a contract. Since she was contracted, the contracted Diva will lend the power the contractor requested without question regardless of the contractor’s purpose. Though if they use the power granted to them in the most foolish manner, the Solomon 72 Pillar will stop forming contract with any Japanese people.}

A tone of obvious disappointment colored Leme’s voice.

The Solomon 72 Pillar was still in the stage of making sure if there was any worth in cooperating with this country. Now was still nothing more than a [testing] stage.

“Senpai! This is a misunderstanding!! How could this turn into such messed up situation!?”

“Kazuki! …Get arrested obediently! That is the best you can do!!”

Torazou-senpai attacked Kazuki with an enraged yell.

Kazuki redirected the attacking sword with Instant Positioning―there he felt the presence of the shadow monster from his back opening its big mouth.

..Damn! He couldn't avoid it!

Half of Kazuki’s body―its left side was bitten by the monster, Kazuki’s magic power that was exhausted in the fight with Beatrix was smashed.

There was no other way than to make Senpai powerless!

Kazuki turned to senpai and dashed, he drew out his Iai.

“Oi…the current you facing against a magician that could use Asmodeus skillfully…it’s pretty bad news!”

Leme’s warning voice felt so far away. It didn't enter his mind.

“Without hesitation of getting hurt myself when cursing thy…the mutual pain is my pleasure! Cry and scream in the mirror reflection! {{furigana|Suicide Black|Jet Black Self Mutilation}}!”

The moment Kazuki cut Kaguya-senpai, Kaguya-senpai’s body was covered with black mist―a defense magic of some kind. The moment the tip of the sword gouged the inside of the black mist, a burning pain ran through Kazuki’s chest up to his whole body. The pain felt like his own body was cut up by a katana!

“GUAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He was cut!? When he looked down on his own body, there was not a single wound happened.

…Phantom pain? The damage was zero, however this defense magic was…a defense magic that reflected only the pain as it was to the opponent!?

In the pause when Kazuki was stopped by the pain, Kaguya-senpai slid away and chanted more spells. Fast chant. Kazuki tried to chase her, but Torazou-senpai forced his way through between them.

“Barrett!”

Mio’s Barrett blew away Torazou-senpai once again. However because of Torazou-senpai’s obstruction, Kazuki couldn’t reach Kaguya-senpai―her summoning magic was already invoked.

“Oh the whisper of the god of death that awaited the visitor impatiently, echo widely and deeply, dyed the whole dream with pain! The evil sound of sadism resounded! {{furigana|Ultra Violence|Double Sense of Pain}}!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, something like a sound wave was produced from Kaguya-senpai, a siren-like voice was echoing inside Kazuki’s head.

That voice doubled the [pain] Kazuki is experiencing.

“―!!”

He raised a scream where even the voice couldn't come out, it was not only Kazuki feeling pain of being shredded from [Suicide Black], Lotte who was attacked with illusionary pain from [Feel Pain] also suffered and writhed on the ground.

So senpai was…specializing in this kind of magic…!

“…Kazuki-oniisan…! {{furigana|Seize|Trance}} your own mind using telepathy, this pain could be reduced by tightening your wall of heart!”

Lotte shouted such to Kazuki even while bearing her own suffering.

However…Kazuki didn’t excel in telepathy to the level of Lotte. It was a field that he was rather poor at.

“The desire lurking inside the sea of the heart, stretch that hand pass the sinful flesh! Oh avatar of violation, entangle your desire! Desire Tentacles!”

The ground was ripped by Kaguya-senpai’s magic, gigantic tentacles rose up from the inside. The tentacles bounded the hands and feet of the bewildered Mio, Lotte and Kazuki who were writhing in pain. Senpai chanted a spell further while staring coldly at Kazuki and the others who couldn't move anymore.

This was senpai’s…the Nightmare Bringer’s fighting style….

If they, who couldn't release themselves quickly from this tentacles, received the brutal high level Summoning Magic from Kaguya Senpai like the sure kill magic, [{{furigana|Gernica|Hell Imaginary }Fire}}]…!

“The five star that shine in the interstice of life and death, spin, spin, pillaged by the whim of the god of death, turn into a silent miserable clay doll! …{{furigana|Near Death Roulette|Great Circle of Neighboring Death}}!!”

The magic that was invoked in the end of the long chant was not an attack magic.

Weapon creation magic―In both of Kaguya-senpai’s hands, she held a scythe with blade spreading to both sides.

But that was not supposed to be a normal scythe!

Kaguya-senpai drew near unnoticed like a god of death, she cut Lotte and Mio with a rotation of the scythe. The second they were cut―changes happened to both of them.

“What, what is this!? The body’s sense, this is like anaesthesia…!”

“!? My eyes cannot see! Kazuki-oniisan!! Where are you!?”

Mio and Lotte screamed because of the mysterious effects.

Kaguya-senpai also pointed the scythe to Kazuki.

“Self Burning!”

Just barely in time, Kazuki burned away the tentacles that bind him with the flame armor that covered his body.

…But his magic power was dried up using this level 3 magic, his consciousness blurred and almost got carried to Astrum.

Kazuki barely stopped it at his limit, he then cut away the tentacles that tied up Mio and Lotte.

However, Lotte's eyes couldn't see anything anymore, she was already in a condition that was unfit for continued fighting. Mio too, her body was wrapped with a sense of discomfort.

“The thing that was stolen from Mio-chan was her sense of touch. Only that much won’t stop her resistance, so I will keep cutting her until she can’t fight anymore…!”

Kaguya-senpai cut Mio with scythe even further.

“Kazu-nii…I can’t see anything…I can't feel…!”

This time Mio’s sight was also locked inside the darkness, she cowered down in fright.

“STOP!”

“Ototou-kun…this scythe will rob one of human’s five senses randomly with each strike, the sixth strike will disconnect their magic power. Even if Otouto-kun is the opponent, if I have the resolution to hit you at the cost of getting hit myself, won’t this scythe reach you?”

Kaguya-senpai explained her ability intentionally like she was trying to threatened Kazuki.

There was no mistake that her word was filled with implication to restrain him. That scythe and the black mist was senpai’s deterrence against close-quarter combat.

But there would be no chance of victory against senpai if he tried to trade Summoning Magic from long distance, so…the only way left for survival lies in close-quarter combat!

Kazuki stepped into Kaguya-senpai’s range with all his strength and slashed his katana. Kaguya-senpai didn’t even attempt to dodge and received the attack stoically like a scarecrow. His hand confirmed the feedback of the smashed magic on her.

But similar with Beatrix, senpai also reduced the damage by controlling her magic power.

―And then separated from that, the pain was reflected back to Kazuki.

“GUUUUU!”

Without a moment’s delay, the scythe that senpai boasted with would be able to hit him as long she was resolved to receive hit on her own self, swung at Kazuki.

Kazuki was barely able to Foresight the trajectory of the scythe. While his head felt like it was ripped open by the illusionary pain, he managed to evade by tumbling over. Kaguya-senpai looked down with a cold gaze at Kazuki who was rolling on the ground.

“…Ultra Violence.”

The evil sound that doubled the agony reverberated once again, Kazuki escaped from Kaguya-senpai’s close range while feeling like he would go crazy from the agony. With this, he let go the means of survival and the chance to discover the opportunity, from his own hand.

“…I want to play around more with Otouto-kun, raising the positivity level higher, then when you become even stronger I want to fight you. Since defeating Hikaru-chan, it has been a long time when someone appeared that could become my rival…yet why did it end up like this?”

Kaguya-senpai approached slowly with the scythe in one hand like a god of death.

If he was cut by that scythe…its over.

“…Stop the approach of resentful enemy, hasten the step of the chosen one…. Oh divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on the ice! Moves in the Field!”

Suddenly a cool and clear voice like transparent ice rang out.

The magic that was invoked―froze Kaguya-senpai’s step, her move was sealed.

And then Koyuki who came sliding in the ground picked up Lotte, who had fallen to the state unfit for battle.

“Kazuki, please pick up Amasaki-san!”

When Koyuki shouted that, ice boots fixed with ice edge similar with Koyuki also generated at Kazuki’s feet.

“…Hiakari-san!? You come to help us!?”

“Kazuki, let’s escape! …We absolutely cannot win against this person!!”

Koyuki dashed to the entrance of the shopping mall, nimbly like an ice-skater, from Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san who couldn’t run easily on top of the ice.

Kazuki asked her while following along.

“What in the world is going on?”

“There is suspicion regarding Kazuki’s action in the quest, so it was decided that you will be treated as an illegal magician. Because doubt has arisen once more toward your unidentified Diva…a transplanting operation will be conducted to your stigmata, then you will be transferred to the Sword Division where your progress will be observed for a while. Kaguya-senpai was handed the quest for that.”

The stigmata would be removed…! Does that mean the contract with Leme would be snatched away!?

“However rather than a transfer to the Sword Division, Kaguya-senpai just came suddenly and attacked us.”

Even though if she just said to them upfront that this is the academy’s decision…Kazuki could have consented peacefully from the beginning.

“The quest that was handed to Kaguya-senpai is to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte].”

“!”

..To catch Lotte and hand her over to Germany means that her life would be in danger.

“That’s why Kaguya-senpai probably thought to report something like this, [because of Hayashizaki Kazuki’s resistance, Hayashizaki Kazuki was arrested but Charlotte had escaped]. That was why she suddenly attacked Kazuki to make you resist. That’s the script that senpai chased after.”

“Koyuki-chan…as I thought, you had eavesdropped the quest that I received. But I never thought that Koyuki-chan of all people will do something this reckless….”

Even though she was supposed to be unable to chase them because of the frozen surface―but Kaguya-senpai’s voice came from their back.

“Even though I intended to finish this without pulling over Hikaru-chan and Koyuki-chan and Kana-chan.”

When they looked over their shoulders to the voice that was dyed with fierce determination, Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san were riding on top of tentacles and came chasing them. From the tip of the tentacle that had stretched to their limit on top of the ice, Kaguya-senpai immediately chanted [Desire Tentacles], and then she leaped to the next tentacles that grew out from the ice-covered surface, this chase looked like a baton relay.

“After all isn't this the best solution? If we take care of it as an internal problem of the academy, everything will end with just Otouto-kun losing his stigmata and transferring to the Sword Division! If I don’t do this…Otouto-kun will really be treated as a criminal!!”

But if they were caught like this―Lotte would be alone once more!

It would also affect the decision of the Solomon 72 Pillar that was evaluating Japan!

However even if they kept running like this with Hiakari-san…where in the world were they going to run?

“I refuse! There should be some other solution than this…Ice Buster!”

While sliding, Koyuki invoked Vepar’s level 6 magic.

The ice mountain directly hit the tentacles that Kaguya-senpai was riding in to pursue Kazuki and the others fiercely. There was no mercy. All those pain―was reflected back to Koyuki.

“Kuu…! …I refuse…I already, don’t want to part with…! Even if everyone betrayed me…even though I’m a monster, I won’t start the betrayal from my own side!!”

Even while enduring the pain, Koyuki kept crashing the ice mountains one after another to Kaguya-senpai.

“…Koyuki-chan…if you cherished Otouto-kun that much…it would be nice if you had become honest earlier. Running away aimlessly, struggling unsightly in the ground...isn’t Koyuki-chan supposed to hate things like that the most?”

Kaguya-senpai’s voice could be heard from the other side of the black mist and the defensive magic power.

“Senpai as well…weren't you crying when you received the quest from the phone! Don’t just act composed by yourself!!”

Kaguya-senpai’s expression that appeared form the other side of the black mist was distorted in sorrow.

“…Ultra Violence!”

“aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Koyuki who couldn't maintain her skating was tumbling over on the ice surface. Lotte too was dropped from her arm and tumbled around. “Hiakari-san!” Watching that, Kazuki couldn't continue to run away alone and stopped in place.

Kaguya-senpai who was struck by all the ice mountain approached them leisurely while riding on the tentacles.

“I am not that naïve you know? The sweet dream is already over. Otouto-kun, give up your game of raising positivity level with that Diva.”

…Although I also want to be captured by you.

Such a small whisper was carried in by the night breeze and could be heard faintly.

{Isn't this quite a terrible situation, don’t make such pitiful face hey, Kaguya. Because of the contract, I’ll lend you power if you ask for it, but…you know that your desire won’t come true with this kind of conclusion, isn't that right?}

Suddenly Asmodeus materialized in Kaguya-senpai’s side even without getting called.

“Be silent. …The truth is I’m always not in the position of needing any desire.”

{Hee, is this what you call human?} Asmodeus’ form vanished leaving behind a spitting voice.

“Sorry…Otouto-kun.”

“Wait, you evil Magica Stigma! As long as this one exist, one’s self won’t permit this kind of atrocity!!”

…A voice that was totally unable read the atmosphere at all.

From the back alley of the arcade, the figure of an unexpected character appeared.

“…Kohaku? Hikitani Kohaku!? How can you be here with this timing!?”

“Kazuki…this one come to save you! Torazou over there, don’t make any suspicious moves!!”

“Kohaku…you bastard!” Torazou-senpai shouted angrily.

“…Who are you? I won’t go easy on an unknown person making fun of this and being a hindrance just so you know.”

In front of Kaguya-senpai who was angry at Kohaku’s frivolous manner―Kohaku drew out her katana.

“Drive and fro and lock, <Murasame>! Battoukaikon<ref>This is like when someone shouted Bankai in Bleach. There was no direct translation, but it literally mean ‘draw sword, release soul’</ref>―{{furigana|Kirisame Byakuya|Drizzle in White Night}}!!”

Drip, Drops of water were hanging from the katana in Kohaku’s hand. Immediately after, that water spread on the whole surface of the surroundings in the blink of eye, transforming into thick mist.

Sacred Treasure!? …Could it be that the seven katana Kohaku owned, all of them!”

Soon he couldn't see Kaguya-senpai’s surprised expression anymore behind the thick mist. Kohaku pulled Kazuki’s sleeve tightly.

“Come on, let’s run Kazuki! Uwah, this ground is so slippery! Whose deed is this, wawawah!”

“Hiakari-san, give her the ice boots too!”

“…Who, who is this person?”

Koyuki who recovered from the agony formed the ice boots for Kohaku too.

“Muu…this is …fun!”

Kohaku said so without any hint of nervousness.

With the enthusiastic Kohaku at the lead, Kazuki and the others were sliding with the skating boots. They were following the roads winding left and right in the back shopping mall to conceal their whereabouts from Kaguya-senpai, and went to escape.

“However…where could we escape to?”

“That is of course…to this one’s Sword Division!”

“Otouto-kun…”

Alone inside the cloudy mist, when she felt that there was no one looking at her,

Kaguya kept standing stock still in that place, and cried while leaking sobbing voices.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-14T06:53:59Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him that much.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

“The magic you can use increases along with the rise of the positivity level and when you kiss someone, you’ll be able to use their magic even up to level 10, once…?”

Mio and Lotte were dumbfounded at Kazuki’s explanation.

“I didn’t kiss Lotte just for the sake of power okay? I did it with proper determination…”

“It’s okay desu, I understand that well desu, Onii-san.”

The girl had the power of telepathy. She understood Kazuki’s real intention.

“Besides, I didn't hate it at all to be kissed…”

Mio’s expression turned disagreeable looking at Lotte whose cheeks were blushing.

“For the sake of protecting Lotte, even kissing her with the determination to keep protecting her…certainly that was, when you have that kind of ability, in that kind of situation there was no other way except to kiss her, but, really, why it must be a kiss…”

Mio moaned “Uuuuu” and pouted.

“Then if I’m the one who is in the same situation, Kazu-nii would also protect me properly right? And, and then Kazu-nii would also…kiss me?”

“Of course I will protect Mio. Now that you mention it…I, I already kissed you, you know?”

“…Eh?”

“Before this, when Loki’s attack hit you, so I could protect Mio…”

“Wait a second! I don’t remember that! I don’t remember that at all!?”

“That was…Mio was already dead at that time.”

Mio pressed her own lips, her face turned red when she thought about the truth that she was already kissed, then her face turned pale white in despair when she realized that matter had all happened when she was not conscious. Her expression alternated between blushing and paling.

“I, I remember seeing a dream of being kissed, but…that was…that had actually happened…? But, but that’s bad, I won’t consent with that!! I also want to do it properly, if Kazu-nii said that you will protect me, then I want you to swear it once again right now right here !”

“But right here…that’s…”

Seeing Kazuki who shrinked back, Lotte spouted out “Puh”.

“That’s right Onii-san…It doesn't count if you gave your oath when the person concerned was not conscious desu.”

Lotte said something to support Mio.

Mio demanded again while glaring at Kazuki with resentful eyes.

“Right now in this place…I want you to kiss me. If you don’t do it, then I won’t believe whatever Kazu-nii is saying about how you consider me as a special person. …I mean, if you had already done it once then it’s not a big deal to do it again right!?”

Kiss Mio once more…. That was a deep and significant action that he wouldn't be able to take back again. It had already reached the point where any excuses wouldn't be heard anymore….

But even so, right now, it was not only the demand from Mio that pushed Kazuki, Mio’s lips had the magic power to fascinate Kazuki’s heart.

“Onii-san…I don’t mind desu. I will believe Onii-san no matter what happens, so I’m satisfied desu.”

Lotte’s word became the feeling that pushed him so, Kazuki took Mio’s chin with his hand. Mio trembled in surprise and closed her eyes.

Kazuki resolved himself and kissed Mio. It was a soft and warm sensation incomparable with anything he ever experienced until now. When their lips separated, Mio stared at Kazuki dazedly, then finally she laughed “hehehe” when she came back to herself.

“Kazu-niii!”

Then Mio hugged Kazuki happily―after that she also returned the kiss from herself to Kazuki.

“Yo, you, that kiss just now…”

“But you know, Kazu-nii protecting me is not just a one-sided affair. Because I’ll also protect Kazu-nii! That’s why…I will also swear with this kiss…”

A heart mark floated from Mio. When she felt satisfied, she gently separated their body from each other.

“Then I will also protect Kazuki-oniisan with my all!”

In the next moment Lotte stretched herself to Kazuki and kissed him.

Wa, wait a minute, what is this situation!? How could it be in this short time he had already received so many kisses from two girls…! This kind of thing is completely like…!

{Kazuki…you are, right in this moment, showing off your real face as the harem King!}

Mio hugged Kazuki’s right arm with a pouting face. Thereupon Lotte hugged Kazuki’s left arm. Both of their positivity level floated in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

Amasaki Mio―132 Lotte―100

“Well…we are a party that protected each other’s back in the end. …Fo, for now we still couldn't be said as something like lovers.”

“Then I’ll kiss Mio-oneesan too.”

“Eh!? I, I don’t wanna. Even though I had finally kiss with Kazu-nii…Wait, I said wait!”

Lotte played around by chasing Mio who was running away.

“…Even so, the Knight Order hasn't come yet huh.”

Kazuki changed the topic while moving his line of sight to Beatrix who was still fainting.

If the Knight Order doesn't come to collect her quickly, they won’t be able to return home to the Witch’s Mansion. When he thought about Beatrix suddenly waking up like a zombie, he felt really uneasy.

They started fighting at 4 o’clock, the evening passed as if it was Ragnarok, and when they noticed, the curtain of the night had already descended. The street lights illuminated the empty arcade.

“The Knight Order won’t come…so we arrived in their place.”

“…Kaguya-senpai? Why are you here?”

The figures who appeared at the entrance of the shopping arcade were Kaguya-senpai in her magic dress and Torazou-senpai. …Did senpai came in place of the Knight Order to collect Beatrix?

“A quest was handed over to me you know, Otouto-kun.”

She talked from the other side of the night. What is this [quest] senpai was talking about? Right now there was no problem at all in this place. The Haunted Ground had been liberated, Beatrix had been defeated….

What kind of quest was handed down to Kaguya-senpai?

In front of the bewildered Kazuki―Torazou-senpai drew his katana and magic power started to be generated from Kaguya-senpai.

“Kazuki…why did you do something like that!? Was my trust to you misplaced!?”

Torazou-senpai…what is he saying!?

“Oh formless and mute shadow, transform into fish that swim in the darkness of delusion! The origin of nightmare, vicissitudes of materialism, answer and swallow the hope and terror…! {{furigana|Deep Specter|Darkness of the Bottom of Shadow}}!”

Kaguya-senpai’s summoning magic―made it really clear―that it targeted Kazuki.

“Senpai! Why!?”

“I’m sorry but…it will be just a little painful.”

At the same time with senpai’s verdict, from the underfoot of Kazuki―a gigantic monster of shadow rose up. Kazuki perceived the flow of the magic power of the monster that was made from lumps of magic power, his Foresight showed its movement and he evaded, then he drew out his Iai.

He smashed the shadow monster into small pieces with his slash.

“What, what the hell is this!?”

“…Prophet, Fire!”

Mio fell into panic while watching Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai alternately in distress, Lotte determined the situation quickly and rattled the shadow monster with her gatling gun’s bullets.

However, Torazou-senpai stepped towards Lotte and attacked her. She couldn't stop Torazou-senpai’s charge with her gatling gun. In that interval, Kaguya-senpai finished her chant with astonishing speed.

“My wicked thoughts is filled with curses, I prayed in earnest for thy’s pain…. I feel no shame for my ominous thoughts! {{furigana|Feel Pain|The Hatred of Fruitless Flower }}!”

The magic to inflict hallucination of pain to the opponent!

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 228.jpg|thumb]]

The bullet of curse flew not to Kazuki but to Lotte.

“Aa, UAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Hallucination of pain that couldn't even be imagined by the one watching outside was―attacking Lotte until she couldn't keep on her feet, she screamed while her body was shaking all over. Given that chance, Torazou-senpai attempted to pursue her.

“..Barrett!”

Torazou-senpai ate the hastily chanted Barrett by Mio and got blown away.

“Senpai…why!”

Kazuki screamed while feeling the anger because of Lotte’s pain.

“We have to arrest Lotte-chan and…she will die in the hands of Germany. That’s why I must let Lotte-chan escape. I will let you get away. But if you become an obstacle in Otouto-kun’s arrest, I will let you taste a little pain.”

Kaguya-senpai coldly informed Lotte. Lotte who crouched in pain, raised her head sternly even with tears amassing in her eyes.

“No desu! I will also help Onii-san!!”

Kaguya senpai will arrest me…?

“I have to…I have to bear this duty! There is no one else other than me!!”

Kaguya-senpai informed Kazuki with a tormented expression filled with a sense of duty.

{Leme! Is Asmodeus’ magic going to be effective against me too!?}

{A contract is a contract. Since she was contracted, the contracted Diva will lend the power the contractor requested without question regardless of the contractor’s purpose. Though if they use the power granted to them in the most foolish manner, the Solomon 72 Pillar will stop forming contract with any Japanese people.}

A tone of obvious disappointment colored Leme’s voice.

The Solomon 72 Pillar was still in the stage of making sure if there was any worth in cooperating with this country. Now was still nothing more than a [testing] stage.

“Senpai! This is a misunderstanding!! How could this turn into such messed up situation!?”

“Kazuki! …Get arrested obediently! That is the best you can do!!”

Torazou-senpai attacked Kazuki with an enraged yell.

Kazuki redirected the attacking sword with Instant Positioning―there he felt the presence of the shadow monster from his back opening its big mouth.

..Damn! He couldn't avoid it!

Half of Kazuki’s body―its left side was bitten by the monster, Kazuki’s magic power that was exhausted in the fight with Beatrix was smashed.

There was no other way than to make Senpai powerless!

Kazuki turned to senpai and dashed, he drew out his Iai.

“Oi…the current you facing against a magician that could use Asmodeus skillfully…it’s pretty bad news!”

Leme’s warning voice felt so far away. It didn't enter his mind.

“Without hesitation of getting hurt myself when cursing thy…the mutual pain is my pleasure! Cry and scream in the mirror reflection! {{furigana|Suicide Black|Jet Black Self Mutilation}}!”

The moment Kazuki cut Kaguya-senpai, Kaguya-senpai’s body was covered with black mist―a defense magic of some kind. The moment the tip of the sword gouged the inside of the black mist, a burning pain ran through Kazuki’s chest up to his whole body. The pain felt like his own body was cut up by a katana!

“GUAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He was cut!? When he looked down on his own body, there was not a single wound happened.

…Phantom pain? The damage was zero, however this defense magic was…a defense magic that reflected only the pain as it was to the opponent!?

In the pause when Kazuki was stopped by the pain, Kaguya-senpai slid away and chanted more spells. Fast chant. Kazuki tried to chase her, but Torazou-senpai forced his way through between them.

“Barrett!”

Mio’s Barrett blew away Torazou-senpai once again. However because of Torazou-senpai’s obstruction, Kazuki couldn’t reach Kaguya-senpai―her summoning magic was already invoked.

“Oh the whisper of the god of death that awaited the visitor impatiently, echo widely and deeply, dyed the whole dream with pain! The evil sound of sadism resounded! {{furigana|Ultra Violence|Double Sense of Pain}}!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, something like a sound wave was produced from Kaguya-senpai, a siren-like voice was echoing inside Kazuki’s head.

That voice doubled the [pain] Kazuki is experiencing.

“―!!”

He raised a scream where even the voice couldn't come out, it was not only Kazuki feeling pain of being shredded from [Suicide Black], Lotte who was attacked with illusionary pain from [Feel Pain] also suffered and writhed on the ground.

So senpai was…specializing in this kind of magic…!

“…Kazuki-oniisan…! {{furigana|Seize|Trance}} your own mind using telepathy, this pain could be reduced by tightening your wall of heart!”

Lotte shouted such to Kazuki even while bearing her own suffering.

However…Kazuki didn’t excel in telepathy to the level of Lotte. It was a field that he was rather poor at.

“The desire lurking inside the sea of the heart, stretch that hand pass the sinful flesh! Oh avatar of violation, entangle your desire! Desire Tentacles!”

The ground was ripped by Kaguya-senpai’s magic, gigantic tentacles rose up from the inside. The tentacles bounded the hands and feet of the bewildered Mio, Lotte and Kazuki who were writhing in pain. Senpai chanted a spell further while staring coldly at Kazuki and the others who couldn't move anymore.

This was senpai’s…the Nightmare Bringer’s fighting style….

If they, who couldn't release themselves quickly from this tentacles, received the brutal high level Summoning Magic from Kaguya Senpai like the sure kill magic, [{{furigana|Gernica|Hell Imaginary }Fire}}]…!

“The five star that shine in the interstice of life and death, spin, spin, pillaged by the whim of the god of death, turn into a silent miserable clay doll! …{{furigana|Near Death Roulette|Great Circle of Neighboring Death}}!!”

The magic that was invoked in the end of the long chant was not an attack magic.

Weapon creation magic―In both of Kaguya-senpai’s hands, she held a scythe with blade spreading to both sides.

But that was not supposed to be a normal scythe!

Kaguya-senpai drew near unnoticed like a god of death, she cut Lotte and Mio with a rotation of the scythe. The second they were cut―changes happened to both of them.

“What, what is this!? The body’s sense, this is like anaesthesia…!”

“!? My eyes cannot see! Kazuki-oniisan!! Where are you!?”

Mio and Lotte screamed because of the mysterious effects.

Kaguya-senpai also pointed the scythe to Kazuki.

“Self Burning!”

Just barely in time, Kazuki burned away the tentacles that bind him with the flame armor that covered his body.

…But his magic power was dried up using this level 3 magic, his consciousness blurred and almost got carried to Astrum.

Kazuki barely stopped it at his limit, he then cut away the tentacles that tied up Mio and Lotte.

However, Lotte's eyes couldn't see anything anymore, she was already in a condition that was unfit for continued fighting. Mio too, her body was wrapped with a sense of discomfort.

“The thing that was stolen from Mio-chan was her sense of touch. Only that much won’t stop her resistance, so I will keep cutting her until she can’t fight anymore…!”

Kaguya-senpai cut Mio with scythe even further.

“Kazu-nii…I can’t see anything…I can't feel…!”

This time Mio’s sight was also locked inside the darkness, she cowered down in fright.

“STOP!”

“Ototou-kun…this scythe will rob one of human’s five senses randomly with each strike, the sixth strike will disconnect their magic power. Even if Otouto-kun is the opponent, if I have the resolution to hit you at the cost of getting hit myself, won’t this scythe reach you?”

Kaguya-senpai explained her ability intentionally like she was trying to threatened Kazuki.

There was no mistake that her word was filled with implication to restrain him. That scythe and the black mist was senpai’s deterrence against close-quarter combat.

But there would be no chance of victory against senpai if he tried to trade Summoning Magic from long distance, so…the only way left for survival lies in close-quarter combat!

Kazuki stepped into Kaguya-senpai’s range with all his strength and slashed his katana. Kaguya-senpai didn’t even attempt to dodge and received the attack stoically like a scarecrow. His hand confirmed the feedback of the smashed magic on her.

But similar with Beatrix, senpai also reduced the damage by controlling her magic power.

―And then separated from that, the pain was reflected back to Kazuki.

“GUUUUU!”

Without a moment’s delay, the scythe that senpai boasted with would be able to hit him as long she was resolved to receive hit on her own self, swung at Kazuki.

Kazuki was barely able to Foresight the trajectory of the scythe. While his head felt like it was ripped open by the illusionary pain, he managed to evade by tumbling over. Kaguya-senpai looked down with a cold gaze at Kazuki who was rolling on the ground.

“…Ultra Violence.”

The evil sound that doubled the agony reverberated once again, Kazuki escaped from Kaguya-senpai’s close range while feeling like he would go crazy from the agony. With this, he let go the means of survival and the chance to discover the opportunity, from his own hand.

“…I want to play around more with Otouto-kun, raising the positivity level higher, then when you become even stronger I want to fight you. Since defeating Hikaru-chan, it has been a long time when someone appeared that could become my rival…yet why did it end up like this?”

Kaguya-senpai approached slowly with the scythe in one hand like a god of death.

If he was cut by that scythe…its over.

“…Stop the approach of resentful enemy, hasten the step of the chosen one…. Oh divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on the ice! Moves in the Field!”

Suddenly a cool and clear voice like transparent ice rang out.

The magic that was invoked―froze Kaguya-senpai’s step, her move was sealed.

And then Koyuki who came sliding in the ground picked up Lotte, who had fallen to the state unfit for battle.

“Kazuki, please pick up Amasaki-san!”

When Koyuki shouted that, ice boots fixed with ice edge similar with Koyuki also generated at Kazuki’s feet.

“…Hiakari-san!? You come to help us!?”

“Kazuki, let’s escape! …We absolutely cannot win against this person!!”

Koyuki dashed to the entrance of the shopping mall, nimbly like an ice-skater, from Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san who couldn’t run easily on top of the ice.

Kazuki asked her while following along.

“What in the world is going on?”

“There is suspicion regarding Kazuki’s action in the quest, so it was decided that you will be treated as an illegal magician. Because doubt has arisen once more toward your unidentified Diva…a transplanting operation will be conducted to your stigmata, then you will be transferred to the Sword Division where your progress will be observed for a while. Kaguya-senpai was handed the quest for that.”

The stigmata would be removed…! Does that mean the contract with Leme would be snatched away!?

“However rather than a transfer to the Sword Division, Kaguya-senpai just came suddenly and attacked us.”

Even though if she just said to them upfront that this is the academy’s decision…Kazuki could have consented peacefully from the beginning.

“The quest that was handed to Kaguya-senpai is to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte].”

“!”

..To catch Lotte and hand her over to Germany means that her life would be in danger.

“That’s why Kaguya-senpai probably thought to report something like this, [because of Hayashizaki Kazuki’s resistance, Hayashizaki Kazuki was arrested but Charlotte had escaped]. That was why she suddenly attacked Kazuki to make you resist. That’s the script that senpai chased after.”

“Koyuki-chan…as I thought, you had eavesdropped the quest that I received. But I never thought that Koyuki-chan of all people will do something this reckless….”

Even though she was supposed to be unable to chase them because of the frozen surface―but Kaguya-senpai’s voice came from their back.

“Even though I intended to finish this without pulling over Hikaru-chan and Koyuki-chan and Kana-chan.”

When they looked over their shoulders to the voice that was dyed with fierce determination, Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san were riding on top of tentacles and came chasing them. From the tip of the tentacle that had stretched to their limit on top of the ice, Kaguya-senpai immediately chanted [Desire Tentacles], and then she leaped to the next tentacles that grew out from the ice-covered surface, this chase looked like a baton relay.

“After all isn't this the best solution? If we take care of it as an internal problem of the academy, everything will end with just Otouto-kun losing his stigmata and transferring to the Sword Division! If I don’t do this…Otouto-kun will really be treated as a criminal!!”

But if they were caught like this―Lotte would be alone once more!

It would also affect the decision of the Solomon 72 Pillar that was evaluating Japan!

However even if they kept running like this with Hiakari-san…where in the world were they going to run?

“I refuse! There should be some other solution than this…Ice Buster!”

While sliding, Koyuki invoked Vepar’s level 6 magic.

The ice mountain directly hit the tentacles that Kaguya-senpai was riding in to pursue Kazuki and the others fiercely. There was no mercy. All those pain―was reflected back to Koyuki.

“Kuu…! …I refuse…I already, don’t want to part with…! Even if everyone betrayed me…even though I’m a monster, I won’t start the betrayal from my own side!!”

Even while enduring the pain, Koyuki kept crashing the ice mountains one after another to Kaguya-senpai.

“…Koyuki-chan…if you cherished Otouto-kun that much…it would be nice if you had become honest earlier. Running away aimlessly, struggling unsightly in the ground...isn’t Koyuki-chan supposed to hate things like that the most?”

Kaguya-senpai’s voice could be heard from the other side of the black mist and the defensive magic power.

“Senpai as well…weren't you crying when you received the quest from the phone! Don’t just act composed by yourself!!”

Kaguya-senpai’s expression that appeared form the other side of the black mist was distorted in sorrow.

“…Ultra Violence!”

“aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Koyuki who couldn't maintain her skating was tumbling over on the ice surface. Lotte too was dropped from her arm and tumbled around. “Hiakari-san!” Watching that, Kazuki couldn't continue to run away alone and stopped in place.

Kaguya-senpai who was struck by all the ice mountain approached them leisurely while riding on the tentacles.

“I am not that naïve you know? The sweet dream is already over. Otouto-kun, give up your game of raising positivity level with that Diva.”

…Although I also want to be captured by you.

Such a small whisper was carried in by the night breeze and could be heard faintly.

{Isn't this quite a terrible situation, don’t make such pitiful face hey, Kaguya. Because of the contract, I’ll lend you power if you ask for it, but…you know that your desire won’t come true with this kind of conclusion, isn't that right?}

Suddenly Asmodeus materialized in Kaguya-senpai’s side even without getting called.

“Be silent. …The truth is I’m always not in the position of needing any desire.”

{Hee, is this what you call human?} Asmodeus’ form vanished leaving behind a spitting voice.

“Sorry…Otouto-kun.”

“Wait, you evil Magica Stigma! As long as this one exist, one’s self won’t permit this kind of atrocity!!”

…A voice that was totally unable read the atmosphere at all.

From the back alley of the arcade, the figure of an unexpected character appeared.

“…Kohaku? Hikitani Kohaku!? How can you be here with this timing!?”

“Kazuki…this one come to save you! Torazou over there, don’t make any suspicious moves!!”

“Kohaku…you bastard!” Torazou-senpai shouted angrily.

“…Who are you? I won’t go easy on an unknown person making fun of this and being a hindrance just so you know.”

In front of Kaguya-senpai who was angry at Kohaku’s frivolous manner―Kohaku drew out her katana.

“Drive and fro and lock, <Murasame>! Battoukaikon<ref>This is like when someone shouted Bankai in Bleach. There was no direct translation, but it literally mean ‘draw sword, release soul’</ref>―{{furigana|Kirisame Byakuya|Drizzle in White Night}}!!”

Drip, Drops of water were hanging from the katana in Kohaku’s hand. Immediately after, that water spread on the whole surface of the surroundings in the blink of eye, transforming into thick mist.

Sacred Treasure!? …Could it be that the seven katana Kohaku owned, all of them!”

Soon he couldn't see Kaguya-senpai’s surprised expression anymore behind the thick mist. Kohaku pulled Kazuki’s sleeve tightly.

“Come on, let’s run Kazuki! Uwah, this ground is so slippery! Whose deed is this, wawawah!”

“Hiakari-san, give her the ice boots too!”

“…Who, who is this person?”

Koyuki who recovered from the agony formed the ice boots for Kohaku too.

“Muu…this is …fun!”

Kohaku said so without any hint of nervousness.

With the enthusiastic Kohaku at the lead, Kazuki and the others were sliding with the skating boots. They were following the roads winding left and right in the back shopping mall to conceal their whereabouts from Kaguya-senpai, and went to escape.

“However…where could we escape to?”

“That is of course…to this one’s Sword Division!”

“Otouto-kun…”

Alone inside the closed mist, when she felt that there was no one looking at her,

Kaguya kept standing stock still in that place, and cried while leaking sobbing voices.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-14T06:44:01Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him that much.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

“The magic you can use increases along with the rise of the positivity level and when you kiss someone, you’ll be able to use their magic even up to level 10, once…?”

Mio and Lotte were dumbfounded at Kazuki’s explanation.

“I didn’t kiss Lotte just for the sake of power okay? I did it with proper determination…”

“It’s okay desu, I understand that well desu, Onii-san.”

The girl had the power of telepathy. She understood Kazuki’s real intention.

“Besides, I didn't hate it at all to be kissed…”

Mio’s expression turned disagreeable looking at Lotte whose cheeks were blushing.

“For the sake of protecting Lotte, even kissing her with the determination to keep protecting her…certainly that was, when you have that kind of ability, in that kind of situation there was no other way except to kiss her, but, really, why it must be a kiss…”

Mio moaned “Uuuuu” and pouted.

“Then if I’m the one who is in the same situation, Kazu-nii would also protect me properly right? And, and then Kazu-nii would also…kiss me?”

“Of course I will protect Mio. Now that you mention it…I, I already kissed you, you know?”

“…Eh?”

“Before this, when Loki’s attack hit you, so I could protect Mio…”

“Wait a second! I don’t remember that! I don’t remember that at all!?”

“That was…Mio was already dead at that time.”

Mio pressed her own lips, her face turned red when she thought about the truth that she was already kissed, then her face turned pale white in despair when she realized that matter had all happened when she was not conscious. Her expression alternated between blushing and paling.

“I, I remember seeing a dream of being kissed, but…that was…that had actually happened…? But, but that’s bad, I won’t consent with that!! I also want to do it properly, if Kazu-nii said that you will protect me, then I want you to swear it once again right now right here !”

“But right here…that’s…”

Seeing Kazuki who shrinked back, Lotte spouted out “Puh”.

“That’s right Onii-san…It doesn't count if you gave your oath when the person concerned was not conscious desu.”

Lotte said something to support Mio.

Mio demanded again while glaring at Kazuki with resentful eyes.

“Right now in this place…I want you to kiss me. If you don’t do it, then I won’t believe whatever Kazu-nii is saying about how you consider me as a special person. …I mean, if you had already done it once then it’s not a big deal to do it again right!?”

Kiss Mio once more…. That was a deep and significant action that he wouldn't be able to take back again. It had already reached the point where any excuses wouldn't be heard anymore….

But even so, right now, it was not only the demand from Mio that pushed Kazuki, Mio’s lips had the magic power to fascinate Kazuki’s heart.

“Onii-san…I don’t mind desu. I will believe Onii-san no matter what happens, so I’m satisfied desu.”

Lotte’s word became the feeling that pushed him so, Kazuki took Mio’s chin with his hand. Mio trembled in surprise and closed her eyes.

Kazuki resolved himself and kissed Mio. It was a soft and warm sensation incomparable with anything he ever experienced until now. When their lips separated, Mio stared at Kazuki dazedly, then finally she laughed “hehehe” when she came back to herself.

“Kazu-niii!”

Then Mio hugged Kazuki happily―after that she also returned the kiss from herself to Kazuki.

“Yo, you, that kiss just now…”

“But you know, Kazu-nii protecting me is not just a one-sided affair. Because I’ll also protect Kazu-nii! That’s why…I will also swear with this kiss…”

A heart mark floated from Mio. When she felt satisfied, she gently separated their body from each other.

“Then I will also protect Kazuki-oniisan with my all!”

In the next moment Lotte stretched herself to Kazuki and kissed him.

Wa, wait a minute, what is this situation!? How could it be in this short time he had already received so many kisses from two girls…! This kind of thing is completely like…!

{Kazuki…you are, right in this moment, showing off your real face as the harem King!}

Mio hugged Kazuki’s right arm with a pouting face. Thereupon Lotte hugged Kazuki’s left arm. Both of their positivity level floated in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

Amasaki Mio―132 Lotte―100

“Well…we are a party that protected each other’s back in the end. …Fo, for now we still couldn't be said as something like lovers.”

“Then I’ll kiss Mio-oneesan too.”

“Eh!? I, I don’t wanna. Even though I had finally kiss with Kazu-nii…Wait, I said wait!”

Lotte played around by chasing Mio who was running away.

“…Even so, the Knight Order hasn't come yet huh.”

Kazuki changed the topic while moving his line of sight to Beatrix who was still fainting.

If the Knight Order doesn't come to collect her quickly, they won’t be able to return home to the Witch’s Mansion. When he thought about Beatrix suddenly waking up like a zombie, he felt really uneasy.

They started fighting at 4 o’clock, the evening passed as if it was Ragnarok, and when they noticed, the curtain of the night had already descended. The street lights illuminated the empty arcade.

“The Knight Order won’t come…so we arrived in their place.”

“…Kaguya-senpai? Why are you here?”

The figures who appeared at the entrance of the shopping arcade were Kaguya-senpai in her magic dress and Torazou-senpai. …Did senpai came in place of the Knight Order to collect Beatrix?

“A quest was handed over to me you know, Otouto-kun.”

She talked from the other side of the night. What is this [quest] senpai was talking about? Right now there was no problem at all in this place. The Haunted Ground had been liberated, Beatrix had been defeated….

What kind of quest was handed down to Kaguya-senpai?

In front of the bewildered Kazuki―Torazou-senpai drew his katana and magic power started to be generated from Kaguya-senpai.

“Kazuki…why did you do something like that!? Was my trust to you misplaced!?”

Torazou-senpai…what is he saying!?

“Oh formless and mute shadow, transform into fish that swim in the darkness of delusion! The origin of nightmare, vicissitudes of materialism, answer and swallow the hope and terror…! {{furigana|Deep Specter|Darkness of the Bottom of Shadow}}!”

Kaguya-senpai’s summoning magic―made it really clear―that it targeted Kazuki.

“Senpai! Why!?”

“I’m sorry but…it will be just a little painful.”

At the same time with senpai’s verdict, from the underfoot of Kazuki―a gigantic monster of shadow rose up. Kazuki perceived the flow of the magic power of the monster that was made from lumps of magic power, his Foresight showed its movement and he evaded, then he drew out his Iai.

He smashed the shadow monster into small pieces with his slash.

“What, what the hell is this!?”

“…Prophet, Fire!”

Mio fell into panic while watching Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai alternately in distress, Lotte determined the situation quickly and rattled the shadow monster with her gatling gun’s bullets.

However, Torazou-senpai stepped towards Lotte and attacked her. She couldn't stop Torazou-senpai’s charge with her gatling gun. In that interval, Kaguya-senpai finished her chant with astonishing speed.

“My wicked thoughts is filled with curses, I prayed in earnest for thy’s pain…. I feel no shame for my ominous thoughts! {{furigana|Feel Pain|The Hatred of Fruitless Flower }}!”

The magic to inflict hallucination of pain to the opponent!

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 228.jpg|thumb]]

The bullet of curse flew not to Kazuki but to Lotte.

“Aa, UAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Hallucination of pain that couldn't even be imagined by the one watching outside was―attacking Lotte until she couldn't keep on her feet, she screamed while her body was shaking all over. Given that chance, Torazou-senpai attempted to pursue her.

“..Barrett!”

Torazou-senpai ate the hastily chanted Barrett by Mio and got blown away.

“Senpai…why!”

Kazuki screamed while feeling the anger because of Lotte’s pain.

“We have to arrest Lotte-chan and…she will die in the hands of Germany. That’s why I must let Lotte-chan escape. I will let you get away. But if you become an obstacle in Otouto-kun’s arrest, I will let you taste a little pain.”

Kaguya-senpai coldly informed Lotte. Lotte who crouched in pain, raised her head sternly even with tears amassing in her eyes.

“No desu! I will also help Onii-san!!”

Kaguya senpai will arrest me…?

“I have to…I have to bear this duty! There is no one else other than me!!”

Kaguya-senpai informed Kazuki with a tormented expression filled with a sense of duty.

{Leme! Is Asmodeus’ magic going to be effective against me too!?}

{A contract is a contract. Since she was contracted, the contracted Diva will lend the power the contractor requested without question regardless of the contractor’s purpose. Though if they use the power granted to them in the most foolish manner, the Solomon 72 Pillar will stop forming contract with any Japanese people.}

A tone of obvious disappointment colored Leme’s voice.

The Solomon 72 Pillar was still in the stage of making sure if there was any worth in cooperating with this country. Now was still nothing more than a [testing] stage.

“Senpai! This is a misunderstanding!! How could this turn into such messed up situation!?”

“Kazuki! …Get arrested obediently! That is the best you can do!!”

Torazou-senpai attacked Kazuki with an enraged yell.

Kazuki redirected the attacking sword with Instant Positioning―there he felt the presence of the shadow monster from his back opening its big mouth.

..Damn! He couldn't avoid it!

Half of Kazuki’s body―its left side was bitten by the monster, Kazuki’s magic power that was exhausted in the fight with Beatrix was smashed.

There was no other way than to make Senpai powerless!

Kazuki turned to senpai and dashed, he drew out his Iai.

“Oi…the current you facing against a magician that could use Asmodeus skillfully…it’s pretty bad news!”

Leme’s warning voice felt so far away. It didn't enter his mind.

“Without hesitation of getting hurt myself when cursing thy…the mutual pain is my pleasure! Cry and scream in the mirror reflection! {{furigana|Suicide Black|Jet Black Self Mutilation}}!”

The moment Kazuki cut Kaguya-senpai, Kaguya-senpai’s body was covered with black mist―a defense magic of some kind. The moment the tip of the sword gouged the inside of the black mist, a burning pain ran through Kazuki’s chest up to his whole body. The pain felt like his own body was cut up by a katana!

“GUAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He was cut!? When he looked down on his own body, there was not a single wound happened.

…Phantom pain? The damage was zero, however this defense magic was…a defense magic that reflected only the pain as it was to the opponent!?

In the pause when Kazuki was stopped by the pain, Kaguya-senpai slid away and chanted more spells. Fast chant. Kazuki tried to chase her, but Torazou-senpai forced his way through between them.

“Barrett!”

Mio’s Barrett blew away Torazou-senpai once again. However because of Torazou-senpai’s obstruction, Kazuki couldn’t reach Kaguya-senpai―her summoning magic was already invoked.

“Oh the whisper of the god of death that awaited the visitor impatiently, echo widely and deeply, dyed the whole dream with pain! The evil sound of sadism resounded! {{furigana|Ultra Violence|Double Sense of Pain}}!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, something like a sound wave was produced from Kaguya-senpai, a siren-like voice was echoing inside Kazuki’s head.

That voice doubled the [pain] Kazuki is experiencing.

“―!!”

He raised a scream where even the voice couldn't come out, it was not only Kazuki feeling pain of being shredded from [Suicide Black], Lotte who was attacked with illusionary pain from [Feel Pain] also suffered and writhed on the ground.

So senpai was…specializing in this kind of magic…!

“…Kazuki-oniisan…! {{furigana|Seize|Trance}} your own mind using telepathy, this pain could be reduced by tightening your wall of heart!”

Lotte shouted such to Kazuki even while bearing her own suffering.

However…Kazuki didn’t excel in telepathy to the level of Lotte. It was a field that he was rather poor at.

“The desire lurking inside the sea of the heart, stretch that hand pass the sinful flesh! Oh avatar of violation, entangle your desire! Desire Tentacles!”

The ground was ripped by Kaguya-senpai’s magic, gigantic tentacles rose up from the inside. The tentacles bounded the hands and feet of the bewildered Mio, Lotte and Kazuki who were writhing in pain. Senpai chanted a spell further while staring coldly at Kazuki and the others who couldn't move anymore.

This was senpai’s…the Nightmare Bringer’s fighting style….

If they, who couldn't release themselves quickly from this tentacles, received the brutal high level Summoning Magic from Kaguya Senpai like the sure kill magic, [{{furigana|Gernica|Hell Imaginary }Fire}}]…!

“The five star that shine in the interstice of life and death, spin, spin, pillaged by the whim of the god of death, turn into a silent miserable clay doll! …{{furigana|Near Death Roulette|Great Circle of Neighboring Death}}!!”

The magic that was invoked in the end of the long chant was not an attack magic.

Weapon creation magic―In both of Kaguya-senpai’s hands, she held a scythe with blade spreading to both sides.

But that was not supposed to be a normal scythe!

Kaguya-senpai drew near unnoticed like a god of death, she cut Lotte and Mio with a rotation of the scythe. The second they were cut―changes happened to both of them.

“What, what is this!? The body’s sense, this is like anaesthesia…!”

“!? My eyes cannot see! Kazuki-oniisan!! Where are you!?”

Mio and Lotte screamed because of the mysterious effects.

Kaguya-senpai also pointed the scythe to Kazuki.

“Self Burning!”

Just barely in time, Kazuki burned away the tentacles that bind him with the flame armor that covered his body.

…But his magic power was dried up using this level 3 magic, his consciousness blurred and almost got carried to Astrum.

Kazuki barely stopped it at his limit, he then cut away the tentacles that tied up Mio and Lotte.

However, Lotte's eyes couldn't see anything anymore, she was already in a condition that was unfit for continued fighting. Mio too, her body was wrapped with a sense of discomfort.

“The thing that was stolen from Mio-chan was her sense of touch. Only that much won’t stop her resistance, so I will keep cutting her until she can’t fight anymore…!”

Kaguya-senpai cut Mio with scythe even further.

“Kazu-nii…I can’t see anything…I can't feel…!”

This time Mio’s sight was also locked inside the darkness, she cowered down in fright.

“STOP!”

“Ototou-kun…this scythe will rob one of human’s five senses randomly with each strike, the sixth strike will disconnect their magic power. Even if Otouto-kun is the opponent, if I have the resolution to hit you at the cost of getting hit myself, won’t this scythe reach you?”

Kaguya-senpai explained her ability intentionally like she was trying to threatened Kazuki.

There was no mistake that her word was filled with implication to restrain him. That scythe and the black mist was senpai’s deterrence against close-quarter combat.

But there would be no chance of victory against senpai if he tried to trade Summoning Magic from long distance, so…the only way left for survival lies in close-quarter combat!

Kazuki stepped into Kaguya-senpai’s range with all his strength and slashed his katana. Kaguya-senpai didn’t even attempt to dodge and received the attack stoically like a scarecrow. His hand confirmed the feedback of the smashed magic on her.

But similar with Beatrix, senpai also reduced the damage by controlling her magic power.

―And then separated from that, the pain was reflected back to Kazuki.

“GUUUUU!”

Without a moment’s delay, the scythe that senpai boasted with would be able to hit him as long she was resolved to receive hit on her own self, swung at Kazuki.

Kazuki was barely able to Foresight the trajectory of the scythe. While his head felt like it was ripped open by the illusionary pain, he managed to evade by tumbling over. Kaguya-senpai looked down with a cold gaze at Kazuki who was rolling on the ground.

“…Ultra Violence.”

The evil sound that doubled the agony reverberated once again, Kazuki escaped from Kaguya-senpai’s close range while feeling like he would go crazy from the agony. With this, he let go the means of survival and the chance to discover the opportunity, from his own hand.

“…I want to play around more with Otouto-kun, raising the positivity level higher, then when you become even stronger I want to fight you. Since defeating Hikaru-chan, it has been a long time when someone appeared that could become my rival…yet why did it end up like this?”

Kaguya-senpai approached slowly with the scythe in one hand like a god of death.

If he was cut by that scythe…its over.

“…Stop the approach of resentful enemy, hasten the step of the chosen one…. Oh divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on the ice! Moves in the Field!”

Suddenly a cool and clear voice like transparent ice rang out.

The magic that was invoked―froze Kaguya-senpai’s step, her move was sealed.

And then Koyuki who came sliding in the ground picked up Lotte, who had fallen to the state unfit for battle.

“Kazuki, please pick up Amasaki-san!”

When Koyuki shouted that, ice boots fixed with ice edge similar with Koyuki also generated at Kazuki’s feet.

“…Hiakari-san!? You come to help us!?”

“Kazuki, let’s escape! …We absolutely cannot win against this person!!”

Koyuki dashed to the entrance of the shopping mall, nimbly like an ice-skater, from Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san who couldn’t run easily on top of the ice.

Kazuki asked her while following along.

“What in the world is going on?”

“There is suspicion regarding Kazuki’s action in the quest, so it was decided that you will be treated as an illegal magician. Because doubt has arisen once more toward your unidentified Diva…a transplanting operation will be conducted to your stigmata, then you will be transferred to the Sword Division where your progress will be observed for a while. Kaguya-senpai was handed the quest for that.”

The stigmata would be removed…! Does that mean the contract with Leme would be snatched away!?

“However rather than a transfer to the Sword Division, Kaguya-senpai just came suddenly and attacked us.”

Even though if she just said to them upfront that this is the academy’s decision…Kazuki could have consented peacefully from the beginning.

“The quest that was handed to Kaguya-senpai is to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte].”

“!”

..To catch Lotte and hand her over to Germany means that her life would be in danger.

“That’s why Kaguya-senpai probably thought to report something like this, [because of Hayashizaki Kazuki’s resistance, Hayashizaki Kazuki was arrested but Charlotte had escaped]. That was why she suddenly attacked Kazuki to make you resist. That’s the script that senpai chased after.”

“Koyuki-chan…as I thought, you had eavesdropped the quest that I received. But I never thought that Koyuki-chan of all people will do something this reckless….”

Even though she was supposed to be unable to chase them because of the frozen surface―but Kaguya-senpai’s voice came from their back.

“Even though I intended to finish this without pulling over Hikaru-chan and Koyuki-chan and Kana-chan.”

When they looked over their shoulders to the voice that was dyed with fierce determination, Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san were riding on top of tentacles and came chasing them. From the tip of the tentacle that had stretched to their limit on top of the ice, Kaguya-senpai immediately chanted [Desire Tentacles], and then she leaped to the next tentacles that grew out from the ice-covered surface, this chase looked like a baton relay.

“After all isn't this the best solution? If we take care of it as an internal problem of the academy, everything will end with just Otouto-kun losing his stigmata and transferring to the Sword Division! If I don’t do this…Otouto-kun will really be treated as a criminal!!”

But if they were caught like this―Lotte would be alone once more!

It would also affect the decision of the Solomon 72 Pillar that was evaluating Japan!

However even if they kept running like this with Hiakari-san…where in the world were they going to run?

“I refuse! There should be some other solution than this…Ice Buster!”

While sliding, Koyuki invoked Vepar’s level 6 magic.

The ice mountain directly hit the tentacles that Kaguya-senpai was riding in to pursue Kazuki and the others fiercely. There was no mercy. All those pain―was reflected back to Koyuki.

“Kuu…! …I refuse…I already, don’t want to part with…! Even if everyone betrayed me…even though I’m a monster, I won’t start the betrayal from my own side!!”

Even while enduring the pain, Koyuki kept crashing the ice mountains one after another to Kaguya-senpai.

“…Koyuki-chan…if you cherished Otouto-kun that much…it would be nice if you had become honest earlier. Running away aimlessly, struggling unsightly in the ground...isn’t Koyuki-chan supposed to hate things like that the most?”

Kaguya-senpai’s voice could be heard from the other side of the black mist and the defensive magic power.

“Senpai as well…aren't you crying when you received the quest from the phone! Don’t just act composed by yourself!!”

Kaguya-senpai’s expression that appeared form the other side of the black mist was distorted in sorrow.

“…Ultra Violence!”

“aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Koyuki who couldn't maintain her skating was tumbling over on the ice surface. Lotte too was dropped from her arm and tumbled around. “Hiakari-san!” Watching that, Kazuki couldn't continue to run away alone and stopped in place.

Kaguya-senpai who was struck by all the ice mountain approached them leisurely while riding on the tentacles.

“I am not that naïve you know? The sweet dream is already over. Otouto-kun, give up your game of raising positivity level with that Diva.”

…Although I also want to be captured by you.

Such small whisper was carried in by the night breeze and could be heard faintly.

{Isn't this quite a terrible situation, don’t make such pitiful face hey, Kaguya. Because of the contract, I’ll lend you power if you ask for it, but…you know that your desire won’t come true with this kind of conclusion, isn't that right?}

Suddenly Asmodeus materialized in Kaguya-senpai’s side even without getting called.

“Be silent. …The truth is I’m always not in the position of needing any desire.”

{Hee, is this what you called human?} Asmodeus’ form vanished leaving behind a spitting voice.

“Sorry…Otouto-kun.”

“Wait, you evil Magica Stigma! As long as this one exist, one’s self won’t permit this kind of atrocity!!”

…A voice that was totally unable read the atmosphere at all.

From the back alley of the arcade, the figure of an unexpected character appeared.

“…Kohaku? Hikitani Kohaku!? How can you be here with this timing!?”

“Kazuki…this one come to save you! Torazou over there, don’t make any suspicious moves!!”

“Kohaku…you bastard!” Torazou-senpai shouted angrily.

“…Who are you? I won’t go easy on an unknown person making fun of this and being a hindrance just so you know.”

In front of Kaguya-senpai who was angry at Kohaku’s frivolous manner―Kohaku drew out her katana.

“Drive and fro and lock, <Murasame>! Battoukaikon<ref>This is like when someone shouted Bankai in Bleach. There was no direct translation, but it literally mean ‘draw sword, release soul’</ref>―{{furigana|Kirisame Byakuya|Drizzle in White Night}}!!”

Drip, Drops of water were hanging from the katana in Kohaku’s hand. Immediately after, that water spread on the whole surface of the surroundings in the blink of eye, transforming into thick mist.

Sacred Treasure!? …Could it be that the seven katana Kohaku owned, all of them!”

Soon he couldn't see Kaguya-senpai’s surprised expression anymore behind the thick mist. Kohaku pulled Kazuki’s sleeve tightly.

“Come on, let’s run Kazuki! Uwah, this ground is so slippery! Whose deed is this, wawawah!”

“Hiakari-san, give her the ice boots too!”

“…Who, who is this person?”

Koyuki who recovered from the agony formed the ice boots for Kohaku too.

“Muu…this is …fun!”

Kohaku said so without any tone of nervousness.

With the enthusiastic Kohaku as their lead, Kazuki and the others were sliding with the skating boots, they were following the roads winding left and right in the back shopping mall to conceal their whereabouts from Kaguya-senpai and went to escape.

“However…where could we go to escape?”

“That is of course…to this one’s Sword Division!”

“Otouto-kun…”

Alone inside the closed mist, when she felt there was no one that had their sight pointed at her,

Kaguya kept standing stock still in that place, she cried while leaking sobbing voices.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-14T06:21:41Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him that much.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

“The magic you can use increases along with the rise of the positivity level and when you kiss someone, you’ll be able to use their magic even up to level 10, once…?”

Mio and Lotte were dumbfounded at Kazuki’s explanation.

“I didn’t kiss Lotte just for the sake of power okay? I did it with proper determination…”

“It’s okay desu, I understand that well desu, Onii-san.”

The girl had the power of telepathy. She understood Kazuki’s real intention.

“Besides, I didn't hate it at all to be kissed…”

Mio’s expression turned disagreeable looking at Lotte whose cheeks were blushing.

“For the sake of protecting Lotte, even kissing her with the determination to keep protecting her…certainly that was, when you have that kind of ability, in that kind of situation there was no other way except to kiss her, but, really, why it must be a kiss…”

Mio moaned “Uuuuu” and pouted.

“Then if I’m the one who is in the same situation, Kazu-nii would also protect me properly right? And, and then Kazu-nii would also…kiss me?”

“Of course I will protect Mio. Now that you mention it…I, I already kissed you, you know?”

“…Eh?”

“Before this, when Loki’s attack hit you, so I could protect Mio…”

“Wait a second! I don’t remember that! I don’t remember that at all!?”

“That was…Mio was already dead at that time.”

Mio pressed her own lips, her face turned red when she thought about the truth that she was already kissed, then her face turned pale white in despair when she realized that matter had all happened when she was not conscious. Her expression alternated between blushing and paling.

“I, I remember seeing a dream of being kissed, but…that was…that had actually happened…? But, but that’s bad, I won’t consent with that!! I also want to do it properly, if Kazu-nii said that you will protect me, then I want you to swear it once again right now right here !”

“But right here…that’s…”

Seeing Kazuki who shrinked back, Lotte spouted out “Puh”.

“That’s right Onii-san…It doesn't count if you gave your oath when the person concerned was not conscious desu.”

Lotte said something to support Mio.

Mio demanded again while glaring at Kazuki with resentful eyes.

“Right now in this place…I want you to kiss me. If you don’t do it, then I won’t believe whatever Kazu-nii is saying about how you consider me as a special person. …I mean, if you had already done it once then it’s not a big deal to do it again right!?”

Kiss Mio once more…. That was a deep and significant action that he wouldn't be able to take back again. It had already reached the point where any excuses wouldn't be heard anymore….

But even so, right now, it was not only the demand from Mio that pushed Kazuki, Mio’s lips had the magic power to fascinate Kazuki’s heart.

“Onii-san…I don’t mind desu. I will believe Onii-san no matter what happens, so I’m satisfied desu.”

Lotte’s word became the feeling that pushed him so, Kazuki took Mio’s chin with his hand. Mio trembled in surprise and closed her eyes.

Kazuki resolved himself and kissed Mio. It was a soft and warm sensation incomparable with anything he ever experienced until now. When their lips separated, Mio stared at Kazuki dazedly, then finally she laughed “hehehe” when she came back to herself.

“Kazu-niii!”

Then Mio hugged Kazuki happily―after that she also returned the kiss from herself to Kazuki.

“Yo, you, that kiss just now…”

“But you know, Kazu-nii protecting me is not just a one-sided affair. Because I’ll also protect Kazu-nii! That’s why…I will also swear with this kiss…”

A heart mark floated from Mio. When she felt satisfied, she gently separated their body from each other.

“Then I will also protect Kazuki-oniisan with my all!”

In the next moment Lotte stretched herself to Kazuki and kissed him.

Wa, wait a minute, what is this situation!? How could it be in this short time he had already received so many kisses from two girls…! This kind of thing is completely like…!

{Kazuki…you are, right in this moment, showing off your real face as the harem King!}

Mio hugged Kazuki’s right arm with a pouting face. Thereupon Lotte hugged Kazuki’s left arm. Both of their positivity level floated in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

Amasaki Mio―132 Lotte―100

“Well…we are a party that protected each other’s back in the end. …Fo, for now we still couldn't be said as something like lovers.”

“Then I’ll kiss Mio-oneesan too.”

“Eh!? I, I don’t wanna. Even though I had finally kiss with Kazu-nii…Wait, I said wait!”

Lotte played around by chasing Mio who was running away.

“…Even so, the Knight Order hasn't come yet huh.”

Kazuki changed the topic while moving his line of sight to Beatrix who was still fainting.

If the Knight Order doesn't come to collect her quickly, they won’t be able to return home to the Witch’s Mansion. When he thought about Beatrix suddenly waking up like a zombie, he felt really uneasy.

They started fighting at 4 o’clock, the evening passed as if it was Ragnarok, and when they noticed, the curtain of the night had already descended. The street lights illuminated the empty arcade.

“The Knight Order won’t come…so we arrived in their place.”

“…Kaguya-senpai? Why are you here?”

The figures who appeared at the entrance of the shopping arcade were Kaguya-senpai in her magic dress and Torazou-senpai. …Did senpai came in place of the Knight Order to collect Beatrix?

“A quest was handed over to me you know, Otouto-kun.”

She talked from the other side of the night. What is this [quest] senpai was talking about? Right now there was no problem at all in this place. The Haunted Ground had been liberated, Beatrix had been defeated….

What kind of quest was handed down to Kaguya-senpai?

In front of the bewildered Kazuki―Torazou-senpai drew his katana and magic power started to be generated from Kaguya-senpai.

“Kazuki…why did you do something like that!? Was my trust to you misplaced!?”

Torazou-senpai…what is he saying!?

“Oh formless and mute shadow, transform into fish that swim in the darkness of delusion! The origin of nightmare, vicissitudes of materialism, answer and swallow the hope and terror…! {{furigana|Deep Specter|Darkness of the Bottom of Shadow}}!”

Kaguya-senpai’s summoning magic―made it really clear―that it targeted Kazuki.

“Senpai! Why!?”

“I’m sorry but…it will be just a little painful.”

At the same time with senpai’s verdict, from the underfoot of Kazuki―a gigantic monster of shadow rose up. Kazuki perceived the flow of the magic power of the monster that was made from lumps of magic power, his Foresight showed its movement and he evaded, then he drew out his Iai.

He smashed the shadow monster into small pieces with his slash.

“What, what the hell is this!?”

“…Prophet, Fire!”

Mio fell into panic while watching Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai alternately in distress, Lotte determined the situation quickly and rattled the shadow monster with her gatling gun’s bullets.

However, Torazou-senpai stepped towards Lotte and attacked her. She couldn't stop Torazou-senpai’s charge with her gatling gun. In that interval, Kaguya-senpai finished her chant with astonishing speed.

“My wicked thoughts is filled with curses, I prayed in earnest for thy’s pain…. I feel no shame for my ominous thoughts! {{furigana|Feel Pain|The Hatred of Fruitless Flower }}!”

The magic to inflict hallucination of pain to the opponent!

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 228.jpg|thumb]]

The bullet of curse flew not to Kazuki but to Lotte.

“Aa, UAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Hallucination of pain that couldn't even be imagined by the one watching outside was―attacking Lotte until she couldn't keep on her feet, she screamed while her body was shaking all over. Given that chance, Torazou-senpai attempted to pursue her.

“..Barrett!”

Torazou-senpai ate the hastily chanted Barrett by Mio and got blown away.

“Senpai…why!”

Kazuki screamed while feeling the anger because of Lotte’s pain.

“We have to arrest Lotte-chan and…she will die in the hands of Germany. That’s why I must let Lotte-chan escape. I will let you get away. But if you become an obstacle in Otouto-kun’s arrest, I will let you taste a little pain.”

Kaguya-senpai coldly informed Lotte. Lotte who crouched in pain, raised her head sternly even with tears amassing in her eyes.

“No desu! I will also help Onii-san!!”

Kaguya senpai will arrest me…?

“I have to…I have to bear this duty! There is no one else other than me!!”

Kaguya-senpai informed Kazuki with a tormented expression filled with a sense of duty.

{Leme! Is Asmodeus’ magic going to be effective against me too!?}

{A contract is a contract. Since she was contracted, the contracted Diva will lend the power the contractor requested without question regardless of the contractor’s purpose. Though if they use the power granted to them in the most foolish manner, the Solomon 72 Pillar will stop forming contract with any Japanese people.}

A tone of obvious disappointment colored Leme’s voice.

The Solomon 72 Pillar was still in the stage of making sure if there was any worth in cooperating with this country. Now was still nothing more than a [testing] stage.

“Senpai! This is a misunderstanding!! How could this turn into such messed up situation!?”

“Kazuki! …Get arrested obediently! That is the best you can do!!”

Torazou-senpai attacked Kazuki with an enraged yell.

Kazuki redirected the attacking sword with Instant Positioning―there he felt the presence of the shadow monster from his back opening its big mouth.

..Damn! He couldn't avoid it!

Half of Kazuki’s body―its left side was bitten by the monster, Kazuki’s magic power that was exhausted in the fight with Beatrix was smashed.

There was no other way than to make Senpai powerless!

Kazuki turned to senpai and dashed, he drew out his Iai.

“Oi…the current you facing against a magician that could use Asmodeus skillfully…it’s pretty bad news!”

Leme’s warning voice felt so far away. It didn't enter his mind.

“Without hesitation of getting hurt myself when cursing thy…the mutual pain is my pleasure! Cry and scream in the mirror reflection! {{furigana|Suicide Black|Jet Black Self Mutilation}}!”

The moment Kazuki cut Kaguya-senpai, Kaguya-senpai’s body was covered with black mist―a defense magic of some kind. The moment the tip of the sword gouged the inside of the black mist, a burning pain ran through Kazuki’s chest up to his whole body. The pain felt like his own body was cut up by a katana!

“GUAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He was cut!? When he looked down on his own body, there was not a single wound happened.

…Phantom pain? The damage was zero, however this defense magic was…a defense magic that reflected only the pain as it was to the opponent!?

In the pause when Kazuki was stopped by the pain, Kaguya-senpai slid away and chanted more spells. Fast chant. Kazuki tried to chase her, but Torazou-senpai forced his way through between them.

“Barrett!”

Mio’s Barrett blew away Torazou-senpai once again. However because of Torazou-senpai’s obstruction, Kazuki couldn’t reach Kaguya-senpai―her summoning magic was already invoked.

“Oh the whisper of the god of death that awaited the visitor impatiently, echo widely and deeply, dyed the whole dream with pain! The evil sound of sadism resounded! {{furigana|Ultra Violence|Double Sense of Pain}}!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, something like a sound wave was produced from Kaguya-senpai, a siren-like voice was echoing inside Kazuki’s head.

That voice doubled the [pain] Kazuki experienced.

“―!!”

He raised a scream where even the voice couldn't come out, it was not only Kazuki that felt the pain of being shredded from [Suicide Black], Lotte who was attacked with illusionary pain from [Feel Pain] also suffered and writhed on the ground.

So senpai was…specializing in this kind of magic…!

“…Kazuki-oniisan…! {{furigana|Seize|Trance}} your own mind using telepathy, this pain could be reduced by tightening your wall of heart!”

Lotte shouted such to Kazuki even while bearing her own suffering.

However…Kazuki didn’t excel in telepathy to the level of Lotte. It was a field that he was rather poor at.

“The desire lurking inside the sea of the heart, stretch that hand pass the sinful flesh! Oh avatar of violation, entangle your desire! Desire Tentacles!”

The ground was ripped by Kaguya-senpai’s magic, gigantic tentacles rose up from its inside. The tentacles bounded the hands and feet of the bewildered Mio, Lotte and Kazuki who writhed in pain. Senpai chanted a spell further while staring coldly at Kazuki and the others who couldn't move anymore.

This was senpai’s…the Nightmare Bringer’s fighting style….

If they, who couldn't release themselves quickly from this tentacles, received the brutal high level Summoning Magic from Kaguya Senpai like the sure kill magic, [{{furigana|Gernica|Hell Imaginary }Fire}}]…!

“The five star that shine in the interstice of life and death, spin, spin, pillaged by the whim of the god of death, turn into a silent miserable clay doll! …{{furigana|Near Death Roulette|Great Circle of Neighboring Death}}!!”

The magic that was invoked in the end of the long chant was not an attack magic.

Weapon creation magic―In Kaguya-senpai’s both hands, she held a scythe with blade spreading to both sides.

But that was not supposed to be a normal scythe!

Kaguya-senpai drew near unnoticed like a god of death, she cut Lotte and Mio with a rotation of the scythe. The second they were cut―changes happened to both of them.

“What, what is this!? The body’s sense, this is like anaesthesia…!”

“!? My eyes cannot see! Kazuki-oniisan!! Where are you!?”

Mio and Lotte screamed because of the mysterious effects.

Kaguya-senpai also pointed the scythe to Kazuki.

“Self Burning!”

Just barely in time, Kazuki burned away the tentacles that bounded him with the flame armor that covered his body.

…But his magic power was dried up using this level 3 magic, his consciousness blurred and almost got carried to Astrum.

Kazuki barely stopped it at his limit, he then cut away the tentacles that tied up Mio and Lotte.

However Lotte's eyes couldn't see anything anymore, she was already in a condition that was unfit to continue fighting. Mio too, her body was wrapped with sense of discomfort.

“The thing that was stolen from Mio-chan was her sense of touch. Only that much won’t stop her resistance, so I will keep cutting her until she can’t fight anymore…!”

Kaguya-senpai cut Mio with scythe even further.

“Kazu-nii…I can’t see anything…I can't feel…!”

This time Mio’s sight was also locked inside the darkness, she cowered down in fright.

“STOP!”

“Ototou-kun…this scythe will rob one of human’s five senses randomly with each strike, the sixth strike will disconnect their magic power. Even if Otouto-kun is the opponent, if I have the resolution to hit you at the cost of getting hit myself, won’t this scythe reach you?”

Kaguya-senpai explained her ability intentionally like she was trying to threatened Kazuki.

There was no mistake that her word was filled with implication to restrain him. That scythe and the black mist was senpai’s deterrence against close-quarter combat.

But there would be no chance of victory against senpai if he tried to trade Summoning Magic from long distance, so…the only way of survival left lies in the close-quarter combat!

Kazuki stepped into Kaguya-senpai’s range with all his strength and slashed his katana. Kaguya-senpai didn’t even attempt to dodge and received the attack stoically like a scarecrow. His hand confirmed the feedback of the smashed magic on her.

But similar with Beatrix, senpai also reduced the damage by controlling her magic power.

―And then separated from that, the pain was reflected back to Kazuki.

“GUUUUU!”

Without a moment’s delay, the scythe that senpai boasted would be able to hit him as long she was resolved to receive hit on her own self swung at Kazuki.

Kazuki barely able to Foresight the trajectory of the scythe while his head felt like it was ripped open by the illusionary pain, Kazuki managed to evade by tumbling over. Kaguya-senpai looked down with a cold gaze at Kazuki who was rolling on the ground.

“…Ultra Violence.”

The evil sound that doubled the agony reverberated once again, Kazuki escaped from Kaguya-senpai’s close range while he felt like he would go crazy from the agony. With this he let go the means of survival and the chance to discover the opportunity from his own hand.

“…I want to play around more with Otouto-kun, raising the positivity level higher, then when you become even stronger I want to fight you. Since defeating Hikaru-chan, it has been a long time that someone appear that could become my rival…yet why did it end up like this?”

Kaguya-senpai approached slowly with the scythe in one hand like a god of death.

If he was cut by that scythe…its over.

“…Stop the approach of resentful enemy, hasten the step of the chosen one…. Oh divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on the ice! Moves in the Field!”

Suddenly a cool and clear voice like a transparent ice rang out.

The magic that was invoked―froze Kaguya-senpai’s step, her move was sealed.

And then Koyuki who came sliding in the ground picked up Lotte who had fallen to the state unfit for battle.

“Kazuki, please pick up Amasaki-san!”

When Koyuki shouted that, ice boots fixed with ice edge similar with Koyuki was also generated at Kazuki’s feet.

“…Hiakari-san!? You come to help us!?”

“Kazuki, let’s escape! …We absolutely cannot win against this person!!”

Koyuki dashed to the entrance of the shopping mall nimbly like an ice-skater from Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san who couldn’t run easily on top of the ice.

Kazuki inquired her while following along.

“What in the world is going on?”

“There is suspicion regarding Kazuki’s action in the quest, so it was decided that you will be treated as an illegal magician. Because doubt has arise once more toward your unidentified Diva…a transplanting operation will be conducted to your stigmata, then you will be transferred to the Sword Division where your progress will be observed for a while. Kaguya-senpai was handed the quest for that.”

The stigmata would be moved…! Does that mean the contract with Leme would be snatched away!?

“However rather than transfer to the Sword Division, Kaguya-senpai just came suddenly and attacked us.”

Even though if she just said to them upfront that this is the academy’s decision…Kazuki could consent peacefully from the beginning.

“The quest that was handed to Kaguya-senpai is to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte].”

“!”

..To catch Lotte and hand her over to Germany means that her life would be in danger.

“That’s why Kaguya-senpai probably thought to report something like this, [because of Hayashizaki Kazuki’s resistance, Hayashizaki Kazuki was arrested but Charlotte had escaped]. That was why she suddenly attacked Kazuki to make you resist. That’s the script that senpai chase after.”

“Koyuki-chan…as I thought, you had eavesdropped the quest that I received. But I never thought that Koyuki-chan of all people will do something this reckless….”

Even though she was supposed to be unable to chase them because of the frozen surface―but Kaguya-senpai’s voice came from their back.

“Even though I intent to finish this without pulling over Hikaru-chan and Koyuki-chan and Kana-chan.”

When they looked over their shoulders to the voice that was dyed with fierce determination, Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san were riding on top of tentacles and came chasing them. From the tip of the tentacle that had stretched to their limit on top of the ice, Kaguya-senpai immediately chanted [Desire Tentacles], and then she leaped to the next tentacles that grew out from the ice-covered surface, this chase looked like a baton relay.

“After all isn't this the best solution? If we take care it as the internal problem of the academy, everything will end with just Otouto-kun losing his stigmata and transferring to the Sword Division! If I don’t do this…Otouto-kun will really be treated as a criminal!!”

But if they were caught like this―Lotte would be alone once more!

It would also affect the decision of the Solomon 72 Pillar that was evaluating Japan!

However even if they kept running like this with Hiakari-san…where in the world they were going to run?

“I refuse! There should be some other solution than this…Ice Buster!”

While sliding, Koyuki invoked Vepar’s level 6 magic.

The ice mountain hit directly the tentacles that Kaguya-senpai rode in to pursue Kazuki and the others fiercely. There was no mercy. All those pain―was reflected back to Koyuki.

“Kuu…! …I refuse…I’m already, don’t want to part with…! Even if everyone betrayed me…even though I’m a monster, I won’t start the betrayal from my own side!!”

Even while enduring the pain, Koyuki keep crashing the ice mountains one after another to Kaguya-senpai.

“…Koyuki-chan…if you cherished Otouto-kun that much…it would be nice if you had become honest earlier. Running away aimlessly, struggling unsightly in the ground...isn’t Koyuki-chan supposed to hate things like that the most?”

Kaguya-senpai’s voice could be heard from the other side of the black mist and the defensive magic power.

“Senpai as well…aren't you crying when you received the quest from the phone! Don’t just act composed by yourself!!”

Kaguya-senpai’s expression that appeared form the other side of the black mist was distorted in sorrow.

“…Ultra Violence!”

“aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Koyuki who couldn't maintain her skating was tumbling over on the ice surface. Lotte too was dropped from her arm and tumbled around. “Hiakari-san!” Watching that, Kazuki couldn't continue to run away alone and stopped in place.

Kaguya-senpai who was struck by all the ice mountain approached them leisurely while riding on the tentacles.

“I am not that naïve you know? The sweet dream is already over. Otouto-kun, give up your game of raising positivity level with that Diva.”

…Although I also want to be captured by you.

Such small whisper was carried in by the night breeze and could be heard faintly.

{Isn't this quite a terrible situation, don’t make such pitiful face hey, Kaguya. Because of the contract, I’ll lend you power if you ask for it, but…you know that your desire won’t come true with this kind of conclusion, isn't that right?}

Suddenly Asmodeus materialized in Kaguya-senpai’s side even without getting called.

“Be silent. …The truth is I’m always not in the position of needing any desire.”

{Hee, is this what you called human?} Asmodeus’ form vanished leaving behind a spitting voice.

“Sorry…Otouto-kun.”

“Wait, you evil Magica Stigma! As long as this one exist, one’s self won’t permit this kind of atrocity!!”

…A voice that was totally unable read the atmosphere at all.

From the back alley of the arcade, the figure of an unexpected character appeared.

“…Kohaku? Hikitani Kohaku!? How can you be here with this timing!?”

“Kazuki…this one come to save you! Torazou over there, don’t make any suspicious moves!!”

“Kohaku…you bastard!” Torazou-senpai shouted angrily.

“…Who are you? I won’t go easy on an unknown person making fun of this and being a hindrance just so you know.”

In front of Kaguya-senpai who was angry at Kohaku’s frivolous manner―Kohaku drew out her katana.

“Drive and fro and lock, <Murasame>! Battoukaikon<ref>This is like when someone shouted Bankai in Bleach. There was no direct translation, but it literally mean ‘draw sword, release soul’</ref>―{{furigana|Kirisame Byakuya|Drizzle in White Night}}!!”

Drip, Drops of water were hanging from the katana in Kohaku’s hand. Immediately after, that water spread on the whole surface of the surroundings in the blink of eye, transforming into thick mist.

Sacred Treasure!? …Could it be that the seven katana Kohaku owned, all of them!”

Soon he couldn't see Kaguya-senpai’s surprised expression anymore behind the thick mist. Kohaku pulled Kazuki’s sleeve tightly.

“Come on, let’s run Kazuki! Uwah, this ground is so slippery! Whose deed is this, wawawah!”

“Hiakari-san, give her the ice boots too!”

“…Who, who is this person?”

Koyuki who recovered from the agony formed the ice boots for Kohaku too.

“Muu…this is …fun!”

Kohaku said so without any tone of nervousness.

With the enthusiastic Kohaku as their lead, Kazuki and the others were sliding with the skating boots, they were following the roads winding left and right in the back shopping mall to conceal their whereabouts from Kaguya-senpai and went to escape.

“However…where could we go to escape?”

“That is of course…to this one’s Sword Division!”

“Otouto-kun…”

Alone inside the closed mist, when she felt there was no one that had their sight pointed at her,

Kaguya kept standing stock still in that place, she cried while leaking sobbing voices.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-14T05:59:14Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him that much.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

“The magic you can use increases along with the rise of the positivity level and when you kiss someone, you’ll be able to use their magic even up to level 10, once…?”

Mio and Lotte were dumbfounded at Kazuki’s explanation.

“I didn’t kiss Lotte just for the sake of power okay? I did it with proper determination…”

“It’s okay desu, I understand that well desu, Onii-san.”

The girl had the power of telepathy. She understood Kazuki’s real intention.

“Besides, I didn't hate it at all to be kissed…”

Mio’s expression turned disagreeable looking at Lotte whose cheeks were blushing.

“For the sake of protecting Lotte, even kissing her with the determination to keep protecting her…certainly that was, when you have that kind of ability, in that kind of situation there was no other way except to kiss her, but, really, why it must be a kiss…”

Mio moaned “Uuuuu” and pouted.

“Then if I’m the one who is in the same situation, Kazu-nii would also protect me properly right? And, and then Kazu-nii would also…kiss me?”

“Of course I will protect Mio. Now that you mention it…I, I already kissed you, you know?”

“…Eh?”

“Before this, when Loki’s attack hit you, so I could protect Mio…”

“Wait a second! I don’t remember that! I don’t remember that at all!?”

“That was…Mio was already dead at that time.”

Mio pressed her own lips, her face turned red when she thought about the truth that she was already kissed, then her face turned pale white in despair when she realized that matter had all happened when she was not conscious. Her expression alternated between blushing and paling.

“I, I remember seeing a dream of being kissed, but…that was…that had actually happened…? But, but that’s bad, I won’t consent with that!! I also want to do it properly, if Kazu-nii said that you will protect me, then I want you to swear it once again right now right here !”

“But right here…that’s…”

Seeing Kazuki who shrinked back, Lotte spouted out “Puh”.

“That’s right Onii-san…It doesn't count if you gave your oath when the person concerned was not conscious desu.”

Lotte said something to support Mio.

Mio demanded again while glaring at Kazuki with resentful eyes.

“Right now in this place…I want you to kiss me. If you don’t do it, then I won’t believe whatever Kazu-nii is saying about how you consider me as a special person. …I mean, if you had already done it once then it’s not a big deal to do it again right!?”

Kiss Mio once more…. That was a deep and significant action that he wouldn't be able to take back again. It had already reached the point where any excuses wouldn't be heard anymore….

But even so, right now, it was not only the demand from Mio that pushed Kazuki, Mio’s lips had the magic power to fascinate Kazuki’s heart.

“Onii-san…I don’t mind desu. I will believe Onii-san no matter what happens, so I’m satisfied desu.”

Lotte’s word became the feeling that pushed him so, Kazuki took Mio’s chin with his hand. Mio trembled in surprise and closed her eyes.

Kazuki resolved himself and kissed Mio. It was a soft and warm sensation incomparable with anything he ever experienced until now. When their lips separated, Mio stared at Kazuki dazedly, then finally she laughed “hehehe” when she came back to herself.

“Kazu-niii!”

Then Mio hugged Kazuki happily―after that she also returned the kiss from herself to Kazuki.

“Yo, you, that kiss just now…”

“But you know, Kazu-nii protecting me is not just a one-sided affair. Because I’ll also protect Kazu-nii! That’s why…I will also swear with this kiss…”

A heart mark floated from Mio. When she felt satisfied, she gently separated their body from each other.

“Then I will also protect Kazuki-oniisan with my all!”

In the next moment Lotte stretched herself to Kazuki and kissed him.

Wa, wait a minute, what is this situation!? How could it be in this short time he had already received so many kisses from two girls…! This kind of thing is completely like…!

{Kazuki…you are, right in this moment, showing off your real face as the harem King!}

Mio hugged Kazuki’s right arm with a pouting face. Thereupon Lotte hugged Kazuki’s left arm. Both of their positivity level floated in front of Kazuki’s eyes.

Amasaki Mio―132 Lotte―100

“Well…we are a party that protected each other’s back in the end. …Fo, for now we still couldn't be said as something like lovers.”

“Then I’ll kiss Mio-oneesan too.”

“Eh!? I, I don’t wanna. Even though I had finally kiss with Kazu-nii…Wait, I said wait!”

Lotte played around by chasing Mio who was running away.

“…Even so, the Knight Order hasn't come yet huh.”

Kazuki changed the topic while moving his line of sight to Beatrix who was still fainting.

If the Knight Order didn't come to collect her quickly, they won’t be able to return home to the Witch’s Mansion. When he thought about Beatrix suddenly waking up like a zombie, he felt really uneasy.

They started fighting at 4 o’clock, the evening passed as if it was Ragnarok, when they noticed the curtain of the night had already descended. The street lights illuminated the empty arcade.

“The Knight Order won’t come…so we arrived in their place.”

“…Kaguya-senpai? Why are you here?”

The figures who appeared at the entrance of the shopping arcade were Kaguya-senpai in her magic dress and Torazou-senpai. …Did senpai came in the place of the Knight Order to collect Beatrix?

“A quest was handed over to me you know, Otouto-kun.”

She talked from the other side of the night. What is this [quest] senpai was talking about? Right now there was no problem at all in this place. The Haunted Ground had been liberated, Beatrix had been defeated….

What kind of quest was handed down to Kaguya-senpai?

In front of the bewildered Kazuki―Torazou-senpai drew his katana and magic power started to be generated from Kaguya-senpai.

“Kazuki…why did you do something like that!? Was my trust to you misplaced!?”

Torazou-senpai…what is he saying!?

“Oh formless and mute shadow, transform into fish that swim in the darkness of delusion! The origin of nightmare, vicissitudes of materialism, answer and swallow the hope and terror…! {{furigana|Deep Specter|Darkness of the Bottom of Shadow}}!”

Kaguya-senpai’s summoning magic―made it really clear―that it targeted Kazuki.

“Senpai! Why!?”

“I’m sorry but…it will be just a little painful.”

At the same time with senpai’s verdict, from the underfoot of Kazuki―a gigantic monster of shadow rose up. Kazuki perceived the flow of the magic power of the monster that was made from lumps of magic power, he Foresighted its movement and evaded, then he drew out his Iai.

He smashed the shadow monster into small volumes with his slash.

“What, what the hell is this!?”

“…Prophet, Fire!”

Mio fell into panic while watching Kazuki and Kaguya-senpai alternately in restlessness, Lotte determined the situation quickly and visited the shadow monster with her gatling gun’s bullets.

However Torazou-senpai went towards Lotte and attacked her. She couldn't stop Torazou-senpai’s charge with her gatling gun. In that interval, Kaguya-senpai finished her chant with astonishing speed.

“My wicked thoughts is filled with curses, I prayed in earnest for thy’s pain…. I feel no shame for my ominous thoughts! {{furigana|Feel Pain|The Hatred of Fruitless Flower }}!”

The magic to inflict hallucination of pain to the opponent!

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 228.jpg|thumb]]

The bullet of curse flew not to Kazuki but to Lotte.

“Aa, UAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Hallucination of pain that couldn't even be imagined by the one watching outside was―attacking Lotte until she couldn't keep standing, she screamed while her body was shaking all over. Torazou-senpai attempted to pursue her with that chance.

“..Barrett!”

Torazou-senpai ate the hastily chanted Barrett by Mio and got blown away.

“Senpai…why!”

Kazuki shouted while feeling the anger because of Lotte’s pain.

“We have to arrest Lotte-chan and…she will die in the hand of Germany. That’s why I must let Lotte-chan escape. I will let you get away. But if you become an obstacle in Otouto-kun’s arrest, I will let you taste a little pain.”

Kaguya-senpai informed Lotte coldly. Lotte who crouched in pain, she raised her head sternly even with tears amassing in her eyes.

“No desu! I will also help Onii-san!!”

Kaguya senpai will arrest me…?

“I have to…I have to bear this duty! There is no one else other than me!!”

Kaguya-senpai informed Kazuki with a tormented expression filled with sense of duty.

{Leme! Is Asmodeus’ magic going to be effective against me too!?}

{A contract is a contract. Since she was contracted, the contracted Diva will lend the power the contractor requested without question regardless of the contractor’s purpose. Though if they use the power granted to them in the most foolish manner, the Solomon 72 Pillar will stop forming contract with any Japanese people.}

A tone of obvious disappointment colored Leme’s voice.

The Solomon 72 Pillar was still in the stage of making sure if there was any worth in cooperating with this country. Now was still nothing more than a [testing] stage.

“Senpai! This is a misunderstanding!! How could this turn into such messed up situation!?”

“Kazuki! …Get arrested obediently! That is the best you can do!!”

Torazou-senpai attacked Kazuki with an enraged yell.

Kazuki redirected the attacking sword with Instant Positioning―there he felt the presence of the shadow monster from his back opening its big mouth.

..Damn! He couldn't avoid it!

Half of Kazuki’s body―its left side was bitten by the monster, Kazuki’s magic power that was exhausted in the fight with Beatrix was smashed.

There was no other way than to make Senpai powerless!

Kazuki turned to senpai and dashed, he drew out his Iai.

“Oi…the current you facing against a magician that could use Asmodeus skillfully…it’s pretty bad news!”

Leme’s warning voice felt so far away. It didn't enter his head.

“Without hesitation of getting hurt myself when cursing thy…the mutual pain is my pleasure! Cry and scream in the mirror reflection! {{furigana|Suicide Black|Jet Black Self Mutilation}}!”

The moment Kazuki cut Kaguya-senpai, Kaguya-senpai’s body was covered with black mist―a defense magic of some kind. The moment the tip of the sword gouged the inside of the black mist, a burning pain ran through Kazuki’s chest up to his whole body. The pain felt like his own body was cut up by a katana!

“GUAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

He was cut!? When he looked down on his own body, there was not a single wound happened.

…Phantom pain? The damage was zero, however this defense magic was…a defense magic that reflected only the pain as it was to the opponent!?

In the pause when Kazuki was stopped by the pain, Kaguya-senpai slid away and chanted more spells. Fast chant. Kazuki tried to chase her, but Torazou-senpai forced his way through between them.

“Barrett!”

Mio’s Barrett blew away Torazou-senpai once again. However because of Torazou-senpai’s obstruction, Kazuki couldn’t reach Kaguya-senpai―her summoning magic was already invoked.

“Oh the whisper of the god of death that awaited the visitor impatiently, echo widely and deeply, dyed the whole dream with pain! The evil sound of sadism resounded! {{furigana|Ultra Violence|Double Sense of Pain}}!!”

The moment that magic was invoked, something like a sound wave was produced from Kaguya-senpai, a siren-like voice was echoing inside Kazuki’s head.

That voice doubled the [pain] Kazuki experienced.

“―!!”

He raised a scream where even the voice couldn't come out, it was not only Kazuki that felt the pain of being shredded from [Suicide Black], Lotte who was attacked with illusionary pain from [Feel Pain] also suffered and writhed on the ground.

So senpai was…specializing in this kind of magic…!

“…Kazuki-oniisan…! {{furigana|Seize|Trance}} your own mind using telepathy, this pain could be reduced by tightening your wall of heart!”

Lotte shouted such to Kazuki even while bearing her own suffering.

However…Kazuki didn’t excel in telepathy to the level of Lotte. It was a field that he was rather poor at.

“The desire lurking inside the sea of the heart, stretch that hand pass the sinful flesh! Oh avatar of violation, entangle your desire! Desire Tentacles!”

The ground was ripped by Kaguya-senpai’s magic, gigantic tentacles rose up from its inside. The tentacles bounded the hands and feet of the bewildered Mio, Lotte and Kazuki who writhed in pain. Senpai chanted a spell further while staring coldly at Kazuki and the others who couldn't move anymore.

This was senpai’s…the Nightmare Bringer’s fighting style….

If they who couldn't release themselves quickly from this tentacles received the brutal high level Summoning Magic from Kaguya Senpai like the sure kill magic, [{{furigana|Gernica|Hell Imaginary }Fire}}]…!

“The five star that shine in the interstice of life and death, spin, spin, pillaged by the whim of the god of death, turn into a silent miserable clay doll! …{{furigana|Near Death Roulette|Great Circle of Neighboring Death}}!!”

The magic that was invoked in the end of the long chant was not an attack magic.

Weapon creation magic―In Kaguya-senpai’s both hands, she held a scythe with blade spreading to both sides.

But that was not supposed to be a normal scythe!

Kaguya-senpai drew near unnoticed like a god of death, she cut Lotte and Mio with a rotation of the scythe. The second they were cut―changes happened to both of them.

“What, what is this!? The body’s sense, this is like anaesthesia…!”

“!? My eyes cannot see! Kazuki-oniisan!! Where are you!?”

Mio and Lotte screamed because of the mysterious effects.

Kaguya-senpai also pointed the scythe to Kazuki.

“Self Burning!”

Just barely in time, Kazuki burned away the tentacles that bounded him with the flame armor that covered his body.

…But his magic power was dried up using this level 3 magic, his consciousness blurred and almost got carried to Astrum.

Kazuki barely stopped it at his limit, he then cut away the tentacles that tied up Mio and Lotte.

However Lotte's eyes couldn't see anything anymore, she was already in a condition that was unfit to continue fighting. Mio too, her body was wrapped with sense of discomfort.

“The thing that was stolen from Mio-chan was her sense of touch. Only that much won’t stop her resistance, so I will keep cutting her until she can’t fight anymore…!”

Kaguya-senpai cut Mio with scythe even further.

“Kazu-nii…I can’t see anything…I can't feel…!”

This time Mio’s sight was also locked inside the darkness, she cowered down in fright.

“STOP!”

“Ototou-kun…this scythe will rob one of human’s five senses randomly with each strike, the sixth strike will disconnect their magic power. Even if Otouto-kun is the opponent, if I have the resolution to hit you at the cost of getting hit myself, won’t this scythe reach you?”

Kaguya-senpai explained her ability intentionally like she was trying to threatened Kazuki.

There was no mistake that her word was filled with implication to restrain him. That scythe and the black mist was senpai’s deterrence against close-quarter combat.

But there would be no chance of victory against senpai if he tried to trade Summoning Magic from long distance, so…the only way of survival left lies in the close-quarter combat!

Kazuki stepped into Kaguya-senpai’s range with all his strength and slashed his katana. Kaguya-senpai didn’t even attempt to dodge and received the attack stoically like a scarecrow. His hand confirmed the feedback of the smashed magic on her.

But similar with Beatrix, senpai also reduced the damage by controlling her magic power.

―And then separated from that, the pain was reflected back to Kazuki.

“GUUUUU!”

Without a moment’s delay, the scythe that senpai boasted would be able to hit him as long she was resolved to receive hit on her own self swung at Kazuki.

Kazuki barely able to Foresight the trajectory of the scythe while his head felt like it was ripped open by the illusionary pain, Kazuki managed to evade by tumbling over. Kaguya-senpai looked down with a cold gaze at Kazuki who was rolling on the ground.

“…Ultra Violence.”

The evil sound that doubled the agony reverberated once again, Kazuki escaped from Kaguya-senpai’s close range while he felt like he would go crazy from the agony. With this he let go the means of survival and the chance to discover the opportunity from his own hand.

“…I want to play around more with Otouto-kun, raising the positivity level higher, then when you become even stronger I want to fight you. Since defeating Hikaru-chan, it has been a long time that someone appear that could become my rival…yet why did it end up like this?”

Kaguya-senpai approached slowly with the scythe in one hand like a god of death.

If he was cut by that scythe…its over.

“…Stop the approach of resentful enemy, hasten the step of the chosen one…. Oh divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on the ice! Moves in the Field!”

Suddenly a cool and clear voice like a transparent ice rang out.

The magic that was invoked―froze Kaguya-senpai’s step, her move was sealed.

And then Koyuki who came sliding in the ground picked up Lotte who had fallen to the state unfit for battle.

“Kazuki, please pick up Amasaki-san!”

When Koyuki shouted that, ice boots fixed with ice edge similar with Koyuki was also generated at Kazuki’s feet.

“…Hiakari-san!? You come to help us!?”

“Kazuki, let’s escape! …We absolutely cannot win against this person!!”

Koyuki dashed to the entrance of the shopping mall nimbly like an ice-skater from Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san who couldn’t run easily on top of the ice.

Kazuki inquired her while following along.

“What in the world is going on?”

“There is suspicion regarding Kazuki’s action in the quest, so it was decided that you will be treated as an illegal magician. Because doubt has arise once more toward your unidentified Diva…a transplanting operation will be conducted to your stigmata, then you will be transferred to the Sword Division where your progress will be observed for a while. Kaguya-senpai was handed the quest for that.”

The stigmata would be moved…! Does that mean the contract with Leme would be snatched away!?

“However rather than transfer to the Sword Division, Kaguya-senpai just came suddenly and attacked us.”

Even though if she just said to them upfront that this is the academy’s decision…Kazuki could consent peacefully from the beginning.

“The quest that was handed to Kaguya-senpai is to [arrest Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte].”

“!”

..To catch Lotte and hand her over to Germany means that her life would be in danger.

“That’s why Kaguya-senpai probably thought to report something like this, [because of Hayashizaki Kazuki’s resistance, Hayashizaki Kazuki was arrested but Charlotte had escaped]. That was why she suddenly attacked Kazuki to make you resist. That’s the script that senpai chase after.”

“Koyuki-chan…as I thought, you had eavesdropped the quest that I received. But I never thought that Koyuki-chan of all people will do something this reckless….”

Even though she was supposed to be unable to chase them because of the frozen surface―but Kaguya-senpai’s voice came from their back.

“Even though I intent to finish this without pulling over Hikaru-chan and Koyuki-chan and Kana-chan.”

When they looked over their shoulders to the voice that was dyed with fierce determination, Kaguya-senpai and Torazou-san were riding on top of tentacles and came chasing them. From the tip of the tentacle that had stretched to their limit on top of the ice, Kaguya-senpai immediately chanted [Desire Tentacles], and then she leaped to the next tentacles that grew out from the ice-covered surface, this chase looked like a baton relay.

“After all isn't this the best solution? If we take care it as the internal problem of the academy, everything will end with just Otouto-kun losing his stigmata and transferring to the Sword Division! If I don’t do this…Otouto-kun will really be treated as a criminal!!”

But if they were caught like this―Lotte would be alone once more!

It would also affect the decision of the Solomon 72 Pillar that was evaluating Japan!

However even if they kept running like this with Hiakari-san…where in the world they were going to run?

“I refuse! There should be some other solution than this…Ice Buster!”

While sliding, Koyuki invoked Vepar’s level 6 magic.

The ice mountain hit directly the tentacles that Kaguya-senpai rode in to pursue Kazuki and the others fiercely. There was no mercy. All those pain―was reflected back to Koyuki.

“Kuu…! …I refuse…I’m already, don’t want to part with…! Even if everyone betrayed me…even though I’m a monster, I won’t start the betrayal from my own side!!”

Even while enduring the pain, Koyuki keep crashing the ice mountains one after another to Kaguya-senpai.

“…Koyuki-chan…if you cherished Otouto-kun that much…it would be nice if you had become honest earlier. Running away aimlessly, struggling unsightly in the ground...isn’t Koyuki-chan supposed to hate things like that the most?”

Kaguya-senpai’s voice could be heard from the other side of the black mist and the defensive magic power.

“Senpai as well…aren't you crying when you received the quest from the phone! Don’t just act composed by yourself!!”

Kaguya-senpai’s expression that appeared form the other side of the black mist was distorted in sorrow.

“…Ultra Violence!”

“aAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!”

Koyuki who couldn't maintain her skating was tumbling over on the ice surface. Lotte too was dropped from her arm and tumbled around. “Hiakari-san!” Watching that, Kazuki couldn't continue to run away alone and stopped in place.

Kaguya-senpai who was struck by all the ice mountain approached them leisurely while riding on the tentacles.

“I am not that naïve you know? The sweet dream is already over. Otouto-kun, give up your game of raising positivity level with that Diva.”

…Although I also want to be captured by you.

Such small whisper was carried in by the night breeze and could be heard faintly.

{Isn't this quite a terrible situation, don’t make such pitiful face hey, Kaguya. Because of the contract, I’ll lend you power if you ask for it, but…you know that your desire won’t come true with this kind of conclusion, isn't that right?}

Suddenly Asmodeus materialized in Kaguya-senpai’s side even without getting called.

“Be silent. …The truth is I’m always not in the position of needing any desire.”

{Hee, is this what you called human?} Asmodeus’ form vanished leaving behind a spitting voice.

“Sorry…Otouto-kun.”

“Wait, you evil Magica Stigma! As long as this one exist, one’s self won’t permit this kind of atrocity!!”

…A voice that was totally unable read the atmosphere at all.

From the back alley of the arcade, the figure of an unexpected character appeared.

“…Kohaku? Hikitani Kohaku!? How can you be here with this timing!?”

“Kazuki…this one come to save you! Torazou over there, don’t make any suspicious moves!!”

“Kohaku…you bastard!” Torazou-senpai shouted angrily.

“…Who are you? I won’t go easy on an unknown person making fun of this and being a hindrance just so you know.”

In front of Kaguya-senpai who was angry at Kohaku’s frivolous manner―Kohaku drew out her katana.

“Drive and fro and lock, <Murasame>! Battoukaikon<ref>This is like when someone shouted Bankai in Bleach. There was no direct translation, but it literally mean ‘draw sword, release soul’</ref>―{{furigana|Kirisame Byakuya|Drizzle in White Night}}!!”

Drip, Drops of water were hanging from the katana in Kohaku’s hand. Immediately after, that water spread on the whole surface of the surroundings in the blink of eye, transforming into thick mist.

Sacred Treasure!? …Could it be that the seven katana Kohaku owned, all of them!”

Soon he couldn't see Kaguya-senpai’s surprised expression anymore behind the thick mist. Kohaku pulled Kazuki’s sleeve tightly.

“Come on, let’s run Kazuki! Uwah, this ground is so slippery! Whose deed is this, wawawah!”

“Hiakari-san, give her the ice boots too!”

“…Who, who is this person?”

Koyuki who recovered from the agony formed the ice boots for Kohaku too.

“Muu…this is …fun!”

Kohaku said so without any tone of nervousness.

With the enthusiastic Kohaku as their lead, Kazuki and the others were sliding with the skating boots, they were following the roads winding left and right in the back shopping mall to conceal their whereabouts from Kaguya-senpai and went to escape.

“However…where could we go to escape?”

“That is of course…to this one’s Sword Division!”

“Otouto-kun…”

Alone inside the closed mist, when she felt there was no one that had their sight pointed at her,

Kaguya kept standing stock still in that place, she cried while leaking sobbing voices.

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-12T22:32:30Z

Armando99: /* Part 1 */

{{Incomplete|parts=1|tparts=2}}

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him at all.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person who had their Stigmata taken out. Such inhumane path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to the mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particles, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki started to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now, everything could be solved just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-12T22:27:37Z

Armando99: /* Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}} */

{{Incomplete|parts=1|tparts=2}}

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him at all.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers, who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, became scared when they imagined his hidden side.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched to a quest with such low level of difficulty?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such things weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any schemer behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply temporary sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved in the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he heard what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 year old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 year old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that, we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person that had their Stigmata taken out, such inhuman path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particle, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki start to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now everything could be solve just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; padding: 0.2em; border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 6

2015-05-12T22:16:57Z

Armando99: /* Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}} */

{{Incomplete|parts=1|tparts=2}}

==Chapter 6 – {{furigana|Raid Night|}}==

===Part 1===

A staff meeting was abruptly called.

“The report that Beatrix was defeated by Hayashizaki Kazuki’s hand had came in.”

Headmaster Otonashi informed the Magic Division’s staff that had gathered.

“Beatrix’s life is not in a life threatening condition, but it seems she had fallen into magic intoxication. A request from Hayashizaki’s party had reached the Knight Order to recover Beatrix. …When the Einherjars was notified, they demanded an explanation from us as to what had happened. Why did our students become an obstacle to them?”

With this information, Headmaster Otonashi explained why he called for this special staff meeting.

Liz Liza had never thought that he would especially call for a meeting like this.

“The students protected Lotte on their own accord in an unfortunate accident, there is no other way other than telling them that right?”

It was not delightful news for Germany, but in this matter that couldn’t be helped.

[Unfortunate accident didn’t happen.]

It was not a story where they could take responsibility. It was not an unfortunate accident in the first place.

However, Headmaster Otonashi shook his head slowly while pushing his forehead with his index finger.

“It would end with that explanation if it were students. There won’t be any kind of responsibility for us. If it were students, we would spend all of the power available to us to protect them. But in this current situation, the problem was that the illegal magician entrusted to our academy brought about harm to the knight of Einherjar, who then abducted the personage of Charlotte Leibenfrau. It was an illegal magician who did this.”

Liz Liza’s complexion changed. By no means, was it Hayashizaki Kazuki who he referred to as an illegal magician?

“…Regarding the unidentified Diva that Hayashizaki Kazuki is contracted with, the risk is supposed to be minimal. He is a student that we should protect. By no means is he an illegal magician or such…”

It was true that Hayashizaki Kazuki had a contract with a different Diva than Solomon 72 Pillar…he was an illegal magician in the eyes of the law. However, the matter developed where they couldn’t carelessly meddle with him.

This is because Lemegeton introduced herself as the Demon King who supervised Solomon 72 Pillar.

“If he is a harmless existence, we could watch him as long as we like, but he defeated the ace of the Einherjar. This couldn’t be considered as an easy-going matter anymore.”

The conference room stirred with voices of confusion towards Headmaster Otonashi’s words.

But to consider him a danger because he was powerful enough to defeat Beatrix―no matter how they looked at it, the impression that the decision was over-rushed didn’t change. Hayashizaki Kazuki couldn’t be said to be an honor student, he was just a normal student. There wasn’t supposed to be any reason to doubt him at all.

“What tomfoolery is this. How can you reach that kind of conclusion? There isn’t even enough material to doubt him.”

“…A report came in that the other day, at the quest that Hayashizaki Kazuki’s party undertook, he illegally picked up a Sacred Treasure. The knights that happened to be present at that time, demanded him to hand over the Sacred Treasure but he resisted, the knights even ended up injured.”

“Illegal possession of Sacred Treasure…? Resisting…? How stupid, there is no way Hayashizaki Kazuki would…”

“The emotion to want to believe the pupil you are in charge of is very noble isn’t it?”

Headmaster Otonashi returned her words with a mocking tone.

That brief comment had controlled the atmosphere of the conference room with the exception of Liz Liza. The other teachers who despite the fact that Hayazhizaki Kazuki had amassed the image of a normal student that could be trusted, when they imagined his hidden side they became scared.

How foolish…. No, in the first place why were the knights dispatched at the quest with such low level of difficulty that Hayashizaki Kazuki received?

Right now, weren’t all the knights in the metropolis had been grouped into Loki’s subjugation’s teams?

What in the world was this unnaturalness?

Impossible. Such thing weren’t supposed to be done to Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lemegeton. Was there any scheme behind the scene…? Could it be…someone with bottomless ill will toward a person who introduced himself as King!?

“Including the matter of [repulsing Beatrix’s attack], the Knight Order demanded this academy to take responsibility. The students took action on their own accord…we couldn’t say that anymore. We have to apprehend Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte, and hand over Charlotte’s personage to Germany. After that, we are going to apply sealing measures to Hayashizaki Kazuki temporarily and banish him to the Sword Division.”

The situation had automatically progressed to the worst.

―The conclusion moved to the direction where Hayashizaki Kazuki and Lotte couldn’t be saved anymore.

“…Lemegeton is a Diva that is possibly connected to Solomon 72 Pillar. If we meddle unskillfully to that contract connection, there would be concern of the deterioration of our relation with Solomon 72 Pillar.”

Headmaster Otonashi’s expression changed for the first time after he listened to what Liz Liza pointed out, “Fu, fufufu” his shoulders was shaking.

“A 15 years old kid is a King, there is no reason to believe such a stupid talk. The Diva who pretend to be Lemegeton, whispering sweet words to the ear of a 15 years old boy when at that age they tend to dream about stupid things, that this boy could become a king. This is just a stupid trick. …But for the moment, we still have some allowance to wait and see. That’s why, now when it’s still an internal problem of this academy, we can deal with this without much fuss by banishing the problem to the Sword Division. After that we could perform the <Stigmata Transplanting Operation> slowly to transfer the stigmata into a more reliable person than Hayashizaki Kazuki, we could investigate the true identity of that Diva better.”

Stigmata Transplanting Operation…? But that technique had the risk of breaking down the mind of the person that had their Stigmata taken out, such inhuman path of research like this should have been discontinued. Because the Stigmata was connected to mind of the contractor even up to their atomic particle, there was no way to conveniently take out only the Stigmata.

From Liz Liza’s side, board chairman Amasaki start to speak like he was trying to convince himself somewhere deep inside.

“If it’s now everything could be solve just by banishing Hayashizaki Kazuki to the Sword Division. It’s unfortunate about Charlotte Liebenfrau, but…she is not a student of this academy…”

According to the law, Hayashizaki Kazuki was a criminal. Any objection couldn’t change that.

Liz Liza kept silent. What could she do by herself?

Headmaster Otonashi made the verdict.

“If there is even a little suspicion…that was the agreement right from the beginning. From now, starting immediately, I order the strongest Magica Stigma of the academy―Otonashi Kaguya to take the quest of apprehending Hayashizaki Kazuki and Charlotte Liebenfrau.”

That kind of stupid action…Liz Liza’s mind turned pure white.

Even though Otonashi Kaguya was very affectionate toward Hayashizaki Kazuki.

For such an order to be handed down by Otonashi Kaguya’s own father….

===Part 2===

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5|Chapter 5]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Intermission|Intermission]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T02:12:40Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like in a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled down by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity created by Beatrix’s agitation, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air like a matador sidestepping a bull. Beatrix’s sword cut on empty space.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to her somehow. And in addition to that, it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix became a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using a half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, Beatrix started to spin a large magic power inside her.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also continued fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki understood that with Foresight, so he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity was hitting her body, and swung her sword down towards Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However, Lotte fired the gatling gun, equipped in her right arm, directly to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to slow down Beatrix's advance.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval, Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma, half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix was again stopped by the net of electricity.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between her and Lotte. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed at is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Since he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrades. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally, he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved. He had the conviction to protect his comrades.

However, Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forward that pierced through the defense line in a soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength, to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of opposition, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of the defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio, clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go, by the destructive power of just that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including the shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he needed to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

Beatrix who had her sword redirected, grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light intensifying was the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with a short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend with it's military prowess surpassing even Odin, synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in that Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sound, resembling an explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noise.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shone intensely, thereafter, the trio of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way and frankly, if Onii-chan attacks me right now and shave off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me, wouldn’t you?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk over with you.”

Beatrix who was walking to here removed her stance and whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and a red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya, who stood from Loki’s standpoint, impudently insulted.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, and she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard?”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely, complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I see you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then, I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin. After that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot of reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! A Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time, with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still a chance of winning. You understand right, what he means?”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that those two are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into a problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s what she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing for me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning, I should stop struggling unsightly and accept my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was for my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who, in despair, walked powerlessly to Beatrix. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether you deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you again!”

Lotte cried back and leaned against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before, that it was only for an important person that you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show me those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with a huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the Titans, he foresaw the victory of the gods The sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that, following Zeus’s command, he created the human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and the beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and spoken words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment, and he was to be continuously detested by Zeus. And in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora to cause heavy floods.

―However, humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and be able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally, I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and gently smiled.

“Prometheus of the Greek Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake of opening up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lit up a silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit into Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to, a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornaments at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born to now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier to soldier, facing each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I were to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana, he received from Prometheus, from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of a human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that slightly exceeded him, Kazuki controlled his katana's blade delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However, before Kazuki could slash his blade a second time, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter, from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting and as Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, while Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirect Beatrix’s pressure, and his posture staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just exactly according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, is not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state. Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard is this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally, starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power and Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward those words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T02:09:58Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like in a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled down by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity created by Beatrix’s agitation, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air like a matador sidestepping a bull. Beatrix’s sword cut on empty space.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to her somehow. And in addition to that, it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix became a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using a half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, Beatrix started to spin a large magic power inside her.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also continued fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki understood that with Foresight, so he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity was hitting her body, and swung her sword down towards Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However, Lotte fired the gatling gun, equipped in her right arm, directly to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to slow down Beatrix's advance.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval, Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma, half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix was again stopped by the net of electricity.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between her and Lotte. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed at is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Since he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrades. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally, he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved. He had the conviction to protect his comrades.

However, Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forward that pierced through the defense line in a soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength, to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of opposition, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of the defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio, clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go, by the destructive power of just that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including the shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he needed to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

Beatrix who had her sword redirected, grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light intensifying was the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with a short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend with it's military prowess surpassing even Odin, synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in that Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sound, resembling an explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noise.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shone intensely, thereafter, the trio of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way and frankly, if Onii-chan attacks me right now and shave off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me, wouldn’t you?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk over with you.”

Beatrix who was walking to here removed her stance and whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and a red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya, who stood from Loki’s standpoint, impudently insulted.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, and she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard?”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely, complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I see you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then, I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin. After that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot of reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! A Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time, with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still a chance of winning. You understand right, what he means?”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that those two are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into a problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s what she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing for me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning, I should stop struggling unsightly and accept my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was for my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who, in despair, walked powerlessly to Beatrix. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether you deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you again!”

Lotte cried back and leaned against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before, that it was only for an important person that you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show me those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with a huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the Titans, he foresaw the victory of the gods The sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that, following Zeus’s command, he created the human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and the beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and spoken words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment, and he was to be continuously detested by Zeus. And in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora to cause heavy floods.

―However, humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and be able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally, I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and gently smiled.

“Prometheus of the Greek Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake of opening up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lit up a silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit into Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to, a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornaments at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born to now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier to soldier, facing each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I were to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana, he received from Prometheus, from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of a human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that slightly exceeded him, Kazuki controlled his katana's blade delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However, before Kazuki could slash his blade a second time, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter, from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting and as Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, while Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirect Beatrix’s pressure, and his posture staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just exactly according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, is not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state. Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard is this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T01:55:55Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like in a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled down by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity created by Beatrix’s agitation, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air like a matador sidestepping a bull. Beatrix’s sword cut on empty space.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to her somehow. And in addition to that, it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix became a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using a half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, Beatrix started to spin a large magic power inside her.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also continued fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki understood that with Foresight, so he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity was hitting her body, and swung her sword down towards Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However, Lotte fired the gatling gun, equipped in her right arm, directly to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to slow down Beatrix's advance.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval, Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma, half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix was again stopped by the net of electricity.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between her and Lotte. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed at is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Since he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrades. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally, he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved. He had the conviction to protect his comrades.

However, Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forward that pierced through the defense line in a soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength, to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of opposition, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of the defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio, clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go, by the destructive power of just that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including the shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he needed to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

Beatrix who had her sword redirected, grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light intensifying was the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with a short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend with it's military prowess surpassing even Odin, synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in that Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sound, resembling an explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noise.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shone intensely, thereafter, the trio of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way and frankly, if Onii-chan attacks me right now and shave off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me, wouldn’t you?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk over with you.”

Beatrix who was walking to here removed her stance and whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and a red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya, who stood from Loki’s standpoint, impudently insulted.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, and she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard?”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely, complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I see you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then, I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin. After that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot of reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! A Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time, with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still a chance of winning. You understand right, what he means?”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that those two are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into a problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s what she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing for me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning, I should stop struggling unsightly and accept my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was for my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who, in despair, walked powerlessly to Beatrix. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether you deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you again!”

Lotte cried back and leaned against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before, that it was only for an important person that you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show me those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with a huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the Titans, he foresaw the victory of the gods The sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that, following Zeus’s command, he created the human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and the beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and spoken words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment, and he was to be continuously detested by Zeus. And in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora to cause heavy floods.

―However, humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and be able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally, I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greek Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake of opening up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lit up a silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit into Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T01:32:00Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like in a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled down by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity created by Beatrix’s agitation, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air like a matador sidestepping a bull. Beatrix’s sword cut on empty space.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to her somehow. And in addition to that, it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix became a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using a half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, Beatrix started to spin a large magic power inside her.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also continued fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki understood that with Foresight, so he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity was hitting her body, and swung her sword down towards Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However, Lotte fired the gatling gun, equipped in her right arm, directly to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to slow down Beatrix's advance.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval, Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma, half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix was again stopped by the net of electricity.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between her and Lotte. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed at is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Since he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrades. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally, he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved. He had the conviction to protect his comrades.

However, Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forward that pierced through the defense line in a soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength, to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of opposition, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of the defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio, clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go, by the destructive power of just that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including the shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he needed to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

Beatrix who had her sword redirected, grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light intensifying was the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with a short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend with it's military prowess surpassing even Odin, synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in that Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sound, resembling an explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noise.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shone intensely, thereafter, the trio of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way and frankly, if Onii-chan attacks me right now and shave off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me, wouldn’t you?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk over with you.”

Beatrix who was walking to here removed her stance and whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and a red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya, who stood from Loki’s standpoint, impudently insulted.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, and she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard?”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely, complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I see you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then, I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin. After that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T01:19:59Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like in a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled down by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity created by Beatrix’s agitation, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air like a matador sidestepping a bull. Beatrix’s sword cut on empty space.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to her somehow. And in addition to that, it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix became a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using a half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, Beatrix started to spin a large magic power inside her.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also continued fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki understood that with Foresight, so he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity was hitting her body, and swung her sword down towards Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However, Lotte fired the gatling gun, equipped in her right arm, directly to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to slow down Beatrix's advance.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval, Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma, half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix was again stopped by the net of electricity.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between her and Lotte. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed at is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Since he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrades. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally, he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved. He had the conviction to protect his comrades.

However, Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forward that pierced through the defense line in a soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength, to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of opposition, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of the defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio, clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go, by the destructive power of just that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including the shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he needed to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

Beatrix who had her sword redirected, grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light intensifying was the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with a short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend with it's military prowess surpassing even Odin, synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in that Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sound, resembling an explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noise.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T00:40:44Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once again. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix's movement, was barely able to obstruct her in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast!, but Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

In that interval, Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix, whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start, leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted the Katana's demand and poured his magic power into it.

Thereupon, the Sacred Treasure transmitted it's [Will] to Kazuki as if it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two, when swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T00:29:22Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use just your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot is going to challenge the same opponent, with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance when Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received, to boldly challenge her in close-quarter combat.

Walls of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in a surprise attack, it was hard to completely evade this magic even though Beatrix has super reflexes and a flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover, Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte, with fury.

But she couldn’t just simply lay a hand on Lotte!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over into the torn up space, it changed into a gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic and her close quarter combat ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio, who separated into two groups, shot their flame bullets in a crossfire. With the flame bullets coming from two fronts, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only a level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon opened its big mouth and snapped at her.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by the naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed, as she pleases, at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of agony and death then disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly, like a joke, with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is a Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is like an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-11T00:09:39Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

While complaining, Kaya casually swung the sword―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark for the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting, Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

With her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who just saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying, that it couldn’t be helped, that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I have no intention of let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combining it with the sword fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In a distance where their sleeves could almost touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Streams of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy was used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit. It was however an effective magic against an opponent who came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use only your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot that is going to challenge the same opponent with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance while Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received and challenged her boldly in close-quarter combat.

Wall of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in surprise attack, it was hard to evade this magic perfectly even though Beatrix owned super reflexes and flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte with fury.

But she couldn’t lay a hand on Lotte so simply!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over from the torn up space, it changed into gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic, her close quarter combat’s ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio who separated into two groups shot their flame bullet in a crossfire. When the flame bullets came from two directions, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon also opened its big mouth and snapped at Beatrix.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed as she pleases at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of death agony and disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly like a joke with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-10T23:56:02Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombies are the Demon Beasts that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy is probably the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio's, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperated with him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interrupting.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and stop her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained, battle-maniac combination won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood my character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of a hero. God of wars of Asgaard, I am right here!”

Finishing her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack appeared in the area of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, it was gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

Kaya swung the sword casually while complaining―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark of the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

From her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying that it couldn’t be helped that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I don’t have any intention to let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combined with the swords fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In the distance where their sleeves could touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Stream of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of the Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy were used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit, but it was an effective magic against an opponent that came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use only your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot that is going to challenge the same opponent with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance while Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received and challenged her boldly in close-quarter combat.

Wall of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in surprise attack, it was hard to evade this magic perfectly even though Beatrix owned super reflexes and flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte with fury.

But she couldn’t lay a hand on Lotte so simply!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over from the torn up space, it changed into gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic, her close quarter combat’s ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio who separated into two groups shot their flame bullet in a crossfire. When the flame bullets came from two directions, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon also opened its big mouth and snapped at Beatrix.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed as she pleases at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of death agony and disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly like a joke with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-10T23:42:37Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, as the size was not too big. Normally, Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombie are the Demon Beast that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy probably is the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperate him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interruption.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and halt her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained battle-maniac combi won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood this side’s character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of hero. God of wars of Asgard, I am right here!”

She finished her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack entered in the space of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, it was gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

Kaya swung the sword casually while complaining―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark of the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

From her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying that it couldn’t be helped that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I don’t have any intention to let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combined with the swords fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In the distance where their sleeves could touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Stream of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of the Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy were used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit, but it was an effective magic against an opponent that came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use only your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot that is going to challenge the same opponent with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance while Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received and challenged her boldly in close-quarter combat.

Wall of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in surprise attack, it was hard to evade this magic perfectly even though Beatrix owned super reflexes and flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte with fury.

But she couldn’t lay a hand on Lotte so simply!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over from the torn up space, it changed into gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic, her close quarter combat’s ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio who separated into two groups shot their flame bullet in a crossfire. When the flame bullets came from two directions, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon also opened its big mouth and snapped at Beatrix.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed as she pleases at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of death agony and disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly like a joke with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-10T23:38:12Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, the size was not too big. Normally Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedures at the Gate, and entered the Haunted ground.

At the same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight stationed at the gate wasn’t able to understand what's happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength. Because of that, their job was to check from the outside whether there was a human who carelessly entered inside. They didn't step inside the Haunted ground, not even once.

Kaya however had already entered this Haunted Ground, to a certain degree, she had already cleaned up the Demon Beasts.

As proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one waiting for them at the crossroads in the center of the arcade was a bound and wounded zombie with the figure of Kaya, kicking and grinding the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that the SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the tables on the Demon Beasts that came to attack, and while waiting, we had annihilated all the Demon Beasts without even knowing it. Zombie are the Demon Beast that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy probably is the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperate him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interruption.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and halt her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained battle-maniac combi won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood this side’s character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of hero. God of wars of Asgard, I am right here!”

She finished her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack entered in the space of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, it was gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

Kaya swung the sword casually while complaining―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark of the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

From her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying that it couldn’t be helped that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I don’t have any intention to let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combined with the swords fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In the distance where their sleeves could touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Stream of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of the Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy were used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit, but it was an effective magic against an opponent that came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use only your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot that is going to challenge the same opponent with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance while Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received and challenged her boldly in close-quarter combat.

Wall of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in surprise attack, it was hard to evade this magic perfectly even though Beatrix owned super reflexes and flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte with fury.

But she couldn’t lay a hand on Lotte so simply!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over from the torn up space, it changed into gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic, her close quarter combat’s ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio who separated into two groups shot their flame bullet in a crossfire. When the flame bullets came from two directions, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon also opened its big mouth and snapped at Beatrix.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed as she pleases at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of death agony and disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly like a joke with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 2 Chapter 5

2015-05-10T23:21:27Z

Armando99: /* Part 2 */

==Chapter 5 – The Qualification of the Living==

===Part 1===

There were many quests that they could challenge leisurely during the holiday weekend, but there was no reason they couldn’t put a challenge after school during the weekdays. As to what Kazuki decided beforehand, he would accept the quest immediately on Monday, the day after the date.

On that fated day’s lunch break, Kazuki received an abrupt summon.

[First year class two Hayashizaki Kazuki-kun, urgent, please go to Tsukahara of Sword Division. I repeat…”

He didn’t understand why the one that called him was not the Magic Division but the Sword Division.

The Knight Academy was divided between the {{furigana|Magic Division|Magica}} and the Sword Division. This was the first time that Kazuki entered the Sword Division’s area. Even though they told him to go to the place of a teacher called [Tsukahara], he didn’t know if it was really okay to be here. It’d be fine if he went to the staff room, but…he didn’t know where the staff room was located. Kazuki who had no other choice, took out his mobile phone.

“Love, is magnetic! Drawn by Onii-sama’s love, the Storm Cat, here I am reporting!”

Immediately after he sent a mail, his step-sister, Kanae arrived dramatically like a force of gale.

“…I feel guilty you know, to arrive that happily just because I called you to guide me…”

“I see, this is the continuation of the previous school tour date that was ruined before by that breast monster from somewhere, right? Kanae is much better in giving a school tour compared to that breast monster! Well then, let me first guide Onii-sama to the Sword Division dorm’s room of Kanae! For the time being we’re going to spend the break there tenderly…”

“No, I was summoned here so we have no time to do that kind of thing.”

“Eeeh!? There was no time for flirting around!? How could that be!?”

While her shoulders dropped in dejection, Kanae guided him from the entrance to the staff room.

“But it’s strange, for Onii-sama to be summoned to the Sword Division.”

“I’m also completely ignorant as to why I was summoned here. I wonder if it’s for scolding.”

“That teacher named Tsukahara Hisatada is a gentle teacher, so I think that’s not it. His appearance is delicate looking from the glasses he wears, but he gives a feeling of someone who has ulterior motives in his mind. Kanae is poor with that kind of person though.”

They hesitatingly advanced through the Japanese-style garden, and then entered the school building that looks like a row wooden house. The building was not particularly high. Inside this two-story building were the classrooms lined up widely and horizontally in a row.

The atmosphere in the Magic Division felt like Europe in the Middle Ages, while the atmosphere in the Sword Division felt like Japan of a long time ago. Even though this was during lunch break, sounds of swords clashing could be heard from somewhere. It was a dear sound that was once a part of Kazuki’s daily life.

Here was the Sword Division―the place where he should have been if he had a different fate―wasn’t it?

They walked in the warm wooden corridor, “Here is the staff room.” and finally arrived at their destination.

“To, to be dismissed when we only just got here…it’s so lonely, very lonely…! Where in the world could I vent this uncontrolled love for Onii-sama!!”

“Vent it in your sword training.”

“Then, I will become the strongest swordsman―n!!”

This was the two-person comedy act of this brother and sister for the first time in a long while, so

“Call me if Onii-sama is going to come again to the Sword Division, okay☆?” Kanae waved her hand and left.

―When he entered the staff room, one of the teachers saw the uniformed figure of Kazuki and “Here, here.” Waved his hand over. Kazuki weaved his way between the desks and headed towards that person.

Some of the teachers were eating lunch boxes and cup ramen, the room was filled with smells that tickled his stomach.

“You finally came, I have heard about you from various people.”

Tsukahara-sensei was just as Kanae told him, he wore glasses and looked fragile, a male teacher that had an intellectual air.

“Currently you are under the charge of Liz Liza-sensei right? She was my partner when we were in active duty. She is a teacher with a strong and straightforward sense of justice. Oops, I forgot to give you my name, I am Tsukahara Hisatada. Similar with Liz Liza-sensei, I’m just an underling that still has a long way to go, I teach the practical skills in the Sword Division. Though I was challenged by your big sister and lost, hahaha.”

“I think Kanae can improve if she received training from a person like sensei.”

It seems Tsukahara-sensei was the type that wield their sword based on theory. Kazuki felt that somehow.

Because Kanae was the type that wield's her sword by instinct, the things she could learn a lot from this teacher.

“Hahaha, thank you.”

Tsukahara-sensei laughed in the way that he couldn’t understand whether he was seriously happy or not. He then jumped the gun on the talk.

“There are some people that want to meet you.”

Saying so, he stood up from the desk and urged Kazuki to follow him.

Some people that wanted to meet him…there was no one that he could think of.

Kazuki followed Tsukahara-sensei like he was told.

The two exited the staff room, this time they entered a room labeled as [Reception Room].

Inside were two people he had a recollection of―the two knights he encountered inside the forest of the Haunted Ground. The knights who confiscated the Sacred Treasure Kazuki and the others discovered, who then came barging into his fight with Beatrix, those two.

“Yaa! Thank you for that time before.”

The male swordsman amicably said so to Kazuki and with a smiling face.

The female Magica Stigma regarded Kazuki with ‘puih’ and averted her face.

“I’m a <Police Knight> attached to the <Knight Order of Chubu Jurisdiction>, Kondou Hajime.”

“…The same as police knight, Souma Yukari.”

The Knight Order was divided into their respective subdivision at eight district with their own jurisdiction zone, which were: Hokkaido – Touhoku – Kantou – Chubu – Kinki – Chuugoku – Shikoku – Kyuushuu, with the Tokyo Metropolis Knight Order Headquarters at the top.

The police knight is the lowest ranking member of the Knight Order. The majority of the knights that just graduated from the knight academy started their career from that rank.

“Knight Academy’s first year, Hayashizaki Kazuki.”

When Kazuki gave out his name with a slight timidity, the knight – Kondo-san came and gripped Kazuki’s hand tightly.

“…Your sword skill left a deep impression on me.”

Kazuki reflexively thought of Torazou-san. He felt the same test between those two.

“Err…what kind of business did you come here for?”

There was no way his reason in coming here was just to say that. He didn’t understand why they came here with only saying, "that he left a deep impression", instead he got even more confused. Kondou-san released his hand and then moved on to the important matter.

“Both of us have something we want to pass to you.”

“I only came because Kondou said he wanted to do this no matter what.”

The Magica Stigma Souma-san, that wore white uniform today, said so with a sullen face.

“Souma-san, didn’t he save both of our lives already?”

“Ugh. …Well, it’d be unbearable if we died in this kind of mission, so I’ll give you my gratitude.”

Souma-san nodded her head slightly while saying so.

…Mission? Now that she mentioned it, why were they in that kind of place?

As members of the Chubu Jurisdiction Knight Order, it was not their jurisdiction.

Other than the knights who belonged to the Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, no other knight should operate here in Tokyo.

“…By all means, this person stands at the top as a swordsman. He is not a bad person.”

“Stop saying unnecessary things and go to the main topic already! Kondou!”

“Actually at that time, we had a peculiar little mission at that Haunted Ground . …We couldn’t give any particulars to you about it, but…unluckily we encountered Beatrix there. The one who cooperated with the Einherjar in Loki’s subjugation effort were the guys at Tokyo Knight Order Headquarters, so regarding Beatrix, we hadn’t heard anything at all.”

Tacit consent for the assassination of the refugee, Lotte―such story was not something that should be known far and wide. It seems even inside the Knight Order, the members who knew about this were only the minority.

They came to the Haunted Ground because of some special mission and got swallowed up in this scheme.

“After that, they explained the circumstances to us along with the order to shut our mouth.”

“This is truly a disgusting story.”

Both Kondou-san and Souma-san puckered their faces unpleasantly.

“However after we heard the story…we were wondering if it’s you, you can protect that refugee Lotte from Beatrix so then we came here. You plan to do that, right? I thought so.”

Kazuki couldn’t respond to that honestly. Kazuki glanced at Tsukahara-sensei who happened to be present in the room. Tsukahara-sensei showed a smile in his mouth like he was saying not to mind him.

“Therefore the thing that I want to hand over to you is…this.”

Thereupon, Kondou-san placed his hand on the luggage sitting on top of the reception room’s glass table. A long, narrow, and robust bag made of cloth―a sword bag. An item used to carry a katana that was sheathed inside its scabbard.

The moment Kondou-san passed over the bag―Kazuki felt the sensation of his magic power being absorbed by the [content inside]. He had a recollection of this sensation.

“Is this…the Sacred Treasure that was dedicated in that shrine?”

“Right, the one that we confiscated from your hands at that time, that katana. After we returned, we made a written report regarding our mission tentatively, but…it was not official because it was only a peculiar mission so various things were quite vague. This Sacred Treasure was also stored in the warehouse without undergoing formal procedure, so there was no proof left behind when we simply swiped this thing and came over here.”

“I’m against this, just so you know. This is all on your own.”

Souma-san was glaring, Kondou-san laughed indifferently.

“There’d be no problem if you returned it immediately after you are finished with it. Also the content of the mission is a secret, no way they are going to go public with this. …Also because you are the escort of Jiisan<ref>Uncle, middle aged man, referring to Mio's father</ref>-sensei’s daughter. Hahaha.”

Towards Kazuki who was uneasy whether it was okay or not to accept this thing, Tsukahara-sensei let out a laugh.

“Isn’t it okay, even if it is properly stored in the Knight Order’s warehouse, it can't be used effectively. It’d be fine if you manage the use of the Sacred Treasure moderately. After all as a former knight, I’m also one of the people that felt dissatisfaction towards the way the Knight Order handles the Sacred Treasures.”

“I know that Tsukahara-sensei is that type of person, so he contacted Hayashizaki-kun and from the beginning I was to hand this over. Now that I mentioned that, Tsukahara-sensei was always connected with Sacred Treasures illegal channels…”

“Hey, shut up about that.”

Tsukahara-sensei, who was smiling warmly, suddenly turned cold and glared at Kondou-san.

“You get too carried away, Kondou.” Souma-san also glared to Kondou-san.

“Ehem. Well, anyway it’s not righteous to just keep following the rules. I can’t possibly think that the government and the Knight Order’s way of doing things are righteous. If it’s you, you should be able to use this Sacred Treasure in its proper meaning. I have seen your fight with Beatrix, as a swordsman, I genuinely aspired to that level you've shown me. And then, I noticed that the power this katana has will be useful if you want to win against Beatrix. Because of that, I couldn’t just stay quiet and do nothing.”

The sacred treasure was an item that absorbed its owner’s magic power in order to invoke the characteristic magic of the Sacred Treasures, just like Summoning Magic.

This Sacred Treasure…could it become one of the piece that could fill the difference between me and Beatrix?

Kazuki accepted the bag containing the Sacred Treasure. Kondou-san grabbed Kazuki’s shoulder.

“Those that are called swordsmen, sacrificed themselves for their own justice in a straightforward manner. With this katana…I want you to cut apart the dark fate that shadowed the girl named Lotte in your confrontation against that absurdity.”

===Part 2===

The quest that Kazuki and the others undertook was to liberate the shopping mall inside the city from its transformation into a Haunted Ground.

It seems the time from when it started to turn into a Haunted Ground was still recent, the size was not too big. Normally Kazuki and the others could achieve the clear condition with just their three people party in the time after the school was over.

After school, a mail from Kaya arrived in his cellphone and told him to come quickly. However Kazuki never gave Kaya his email address. How in the world did she find his email address…

They arrived at their destination area at 4:00 PM by riding the magic train.

When everything is over, it’d be nice to eat delicious dinner together with everyone in the Witch’s Mansion, Kazuki thought.

Kazuki and the others went through the procedure in the Gate and entered the Haunted ground.

The same time they entered the Haunted ground, Mio and Lotte performed their Access and transformed into their Magic Dress’ forms.

The former knight that was stationed in the gate wasn’t able to perceived the happening inside the Haunted Ground. Their magic power had already weakened and they had no more fighting strength, because of that their job was only to check from the outside whether there was human who entered inside carelessly. They never stepped inside the Haunted ground even once.

However Kaya had already penetrated this Haunted Ground, she should have already cleaned up the Demon Beasts to a certain degree.

As the proof, the inside of the Haunted Ground had mostly returned to its normal Shopping Arcade’s appearance.

At the end of their destination, the one who awaited them at the crossroads at the center of the arcade was a wounded and bounded zombie and the figure of Kaya who was grinding and kicking the downed zombie.

“Being tied and then getting stepped on…yet to get turned on by this act….Onii-chan! The current Kaya is shining bright in the color of chaos!!”

Kaya laughed sadistically while she was grinding the pitiful zombie.

“Kazu-nii…is that really Kaya…?”

It seemed so.

“Onii-chan…what in the world are they doing…?”

…From what was happening, it seems that SM<ref>Sadist Masochist play</ref> play belonged under Chaos.

“This Haunted Ground is so small. We turned the table on the Demon Beasts that came attacking, while we were waiting we annihilated all the Demon Beasts before we knew it. Zombie are the Demon Beast that reigned in this Haunted Ground, this guy probably is the last one. …Mio-chan, long time no seee!”

When Kaya’s eyes met with Mio, she hugged her excitedly.

“Ka, Kaya…long time no see! I, have a lot of things I want to talk about…”

“Sorry for the other day, I killed you together with Loki.”

Kaya whispered in Mio’s chest. Mio who was smiling before froze.

“Kazuki-oniisan…this person is…”

We only cooperate him temporarily, don’t mind her too much.”

“It’s cruel for Onii-chan to say that, even though Kaya’s heart throbbed so violently this past hour!”

Kaya separated from Mio in a flash and rotated around ‘kurukuru’ while saying such false-sounding words.

Well then…thanks to Kaya’s overkill activity, there’d be no worry about Demon Beast’s interruption.

“But with all these preparations waiting, even Beatrix would suspect something wouldn’t he? She might notice the abnormality and halt her attack.”

“Onii-chan really doesn’t understand the opponent’s personality. This was the Thor from the Norse Mythology and the Magica Stigma that was chosen by that Thor you know? Those muscle-brained battle-maniac combi won’t cancel their attack just because of a little suspicion yeah.”

“…Exactly like that girl said. She really understood this side’s character well. Waiting in an ambush like this, lad, you too really loved the fight with me huh?”

The one who hailed Kaya’s words―from the direction of the shopping mall’s entrance, a low voice like steel came. While the sound of the military shoes ‘katsukatsu’ rang out, the woman in black military uniform came walking to them.

“The god, Thor. For the soldier who wish for Valhalla, descend from Asgard and show those fierce appearance. I too will show the soul of hero. God of wars of Asgard, I am right here!”

She finished her Access promptly, she drew out her sword in her armored Valkyrie’s form.

“Well then, let’s use that Demon Beast’s neck as the trigger for this battle! It’s fine to start whenever you like.”

“It’s really a bloodthirsty proposal fitting for those guys in Norse Mythology. Then, let’s immediately…”

The same time Kaya gave her reply to Beatrix―Kaya’s right arm emitted a blue light of magic power.

Just like when a uniform transformed into Magic Dress, Kaya’s thin arm that stretched from the sleeve of her shirts grew thick like the arm of a different person, even the color of her skin transformed into the color of the different arm. …Is that, Loki’s arm…?

“{{furigana|Weapon Invite|Sacred Treasure’s Encroachment}}!”

And then when Kaya yelled, a crack entered in the space of her wrist. Jet black drips spilled over…it transformed into a silver one-handed sword full of ornaments, it was gripped by the suspicious-looking right arm of Kaya.

“<Burtgang> huh. Not a bad renowned sword, but it’s nothing more than a Sacred Treasure that has an image of breaking with a snap. Sometimes only strange things come out from this magic.”

Kaya swung the sword casually while complaining―the zombie’s neck flew.

The spark of the fight had been ignited.

“Berserk!!”

At the same time, with her quick spell chanting Beatrix reinforced her whole body and reflexes.

Then he charged Kazuki in a straight line.

“Barrett!”

“Prophet, Fire!”

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic came flying, but Beatrix easily repelled those with her shield.

From her quick step, Beatrix unleashed her usual strong sword.

Kazuki met the attack while also chanting his spell. When Kazuki redirected Beatrix’s strong sword, Beatrix grinned like a child who saw a magic trick.

Her expression seemed like it was saying that it couldn’t be helped that his unknown sword skill would make her excited.

―However, my bad, but this time I don’t have any intention to let you have a fight that was in your taste.

“This hand reach out to the height of Babel, now this hand grasp the lightning bolt of the god! In accordance with my life, lightning, whirled with my breath! Collider Field!!”

Kazuki invoked Prophet’s level 3 magic combined with the swords fight. In front of Beatrix’s eyes, Kazuki’s left hand was equipped with a gauntlet that contained electric energy.

Kazuki wasted no time in unleashing those energy.

“Whatt!?”

In the distance where their sleeves could touch each other, Beatrix was swallowed by the whirlpool of electricity. Stream of electricity wreaked havoc from the inside of the Beatrix’s armor and helmet that boasted high defensive power.

When the energy were used up, the gauntlet disappeared. It was a level 3 magic, so as far as Kazuki was concerned, it was a magic with time limit, but it was an effective magic against an opponent that came to challenge him in close-quarters.

“Lad, you bastard! You’re not going to use only your sword skill…don’t betray my expectation!!”

“Only an idiot that is going to challenge the same opponent with the same way of fighting and the same challenge right from the front!”

Mio and Lotte rushed in right at that moment.

“Fire Wall!”

Mio used the chance while Beatrix was staggering from the attack she received and challenged her boldly in close-quarter combat.

Wall of flames erupted from Beatrix’s feet. When Mio used this in surprise attack, it was hard to evade this magic perfectly even though Beatrix owned super reflexes and flame-resistant shield.

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Moreover Lotte also invoked an electric barrier with her gauntlet that scattered sparks around. While Beatrix’s blue defensive magic power was smashed―Beatrix glared at her original target, Lotte with fury.

But she couldn’t lay a hand on Lotte so simply!

The space behind Beatrix was torn up.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya used Loki’s magic. Black drips spilled over from the torn up space, it changed into gigantic green dragon with shining jade green scales and attacked.

“Kuh…Megingjörð!!”

Even while receiving damage, Beatrix chanted her second level reinforcement magic, her close quarter combat’s ability was increased even higher.

The claws of the attacking dragon were easily repelled by the strong swing with her super reflexes. But in that gap,

“”Barrett!””

Kazuki and Mio who separated into two groups shot their flame bullet in a crossfire. When the flame bullets came from two directions, the shield could only defend against one direction. One shot would certainly hit.

The power of Barrett was high even though it was only level 1 magic. Toward Beatrix who staggered about because of the shock of smashed magic, the dragon also opened its big mouth and snapped at Beatrix.

“Underhanded way of fighting…is not how a swordsman should fight!!”

Beatrix raised an angry voice. The next moment, her body accelerated into speed that couldn’t be caught by naked eye―she released slashes in lightning speed as she pleases at the dragon.

Its whole body became minced meat, the dragon howled a cry of death agony and disappeared.

If they allowed her consecutive attacks to continue, the frontline swordsman would just get killed instantly like a joke with the attack power that Beatrix currently had!

“That sword is Sacred Treasure, but…your movement is an amateur!”

Beatrix turned to Kaya and raised her sword.

“Dragon Invite!”

Kaya summoned a Demon Beast once more. But maybe because the accumulated time was short, the summoned dragon was small. Beatrix disposed of it in a single blow and approached Kaya.

But the current Kaya…was his comrade!

“Do you think I’ll let you!”

Kazuki who Foresighted Beatrix’s movement barely obstructed Beatrix in front of Kaya, he redirected her sword and destroyed her posture with his skill.

Beatrix righted her posture forcibly and counter-attacked Kazuki.

Even from the front…it was fast! But Kazuki redirected those swords one after another.

Mio and Lotte’s attack magic flew in that interval.

“Bastards…!”

Beatrix whose pace was thrown off-balance right from the start leaked a furious voice. Then―

“Don’t expect me to go easy anymore! …Fjörgyn Megin!”

―She invoked the problematic element addition magic. If she could recite that spell, she could deal with Kazuki easily in close quarter battle. If the vanguard was lost, the party would be routed.

But the katana that Kazuki currently held was not [{{furigana|Doufuu|Path Wind}}] but the Sacred Treasure that he received from the senior knight. Even though he felt that Doufuu was superior in sharpness, but this katana possessed a special power.

“With this you bastard’s sword skill will be useless!”

“I wonder about that…Don’t think that everything will be the same like before!”

From Kazuki’s palm, the handle that was made of plain wood felt like it was breathing, it wanted to absorbed Kazuki’s magic power.

Kazuki accepted its demand and poured his magic power to the katana.

Thereupon the Sacred Treasure transmitted its [Will] to Kazuki like it was answering him.

The power that this Sacred Treasure had, Kazuki perceived and understood it.

Then he chanted the Sacred Treasure’s name like when he was chanting a spell.

“Flash, <{{furigana|Raikiri|Lighning Cutter}} >!”

Raikiri―the Japanese katana that was said to be able to cut lightning into two when it was swung by a master.

The same legends existed here and there, so there were several famous swords that took the name of [Raikiri].

The katana that Kazuki held in his hand was one of the swords among them.

Beatrix bought down her sword that possessed the lightning that fell from heaven.

Kazuki unleashed the power of Raikiri and met those attack.

The instant both swords clashed against each other―the electricity lost its flow and vanished like a mist.

“What…?”

Losing its lightning property, Kazuki didn’t try to oppose the strength of Beatrix’s attack that turned into a normal slash and redirected it. Beatrix who was absentminded staggered feebly like a swimming motion.

“…To even prepare countermeasure for this…”

Beatrix’s weakness that Kaya pointed …her breadth of tactics was narrow. Kazuki was thoroughly prepared.

Even Beatrix’s magic power was whittled off by the attacks of four people.

Using the opportunity that Beatrix’s agitation created, Kaya slashed the sword that she held in her right hand .

Beatrix glared at Kaya scornfully.

“…Before having fun in the fight against this lad…I’ll reduce the number of the [bothers] first!”

Beatrix disappeared from Kazuki’s eyes.

The destination of her sword was―Kaya.

“Armor Invite!”

Just before Beatrix’s slash reached Kaya, Kaya summoned an [Cloak of Feather] and lightly danced in the air. Beatrix’s sword cut an empty space like a matador sidestepping a bull.

“That cloak of feather…that’s Freyja’s [{{furigana|Fiaðrhamr|Falcon’s Plumage}}]! The guy who could use that cloak of feather as he please, my faith’s Diva knows you and want to talk! When I thought that the subjugation party was not able to discover you and yet to meet in this kind of place…Loki!”

“Achaa…I got exposed. The thing in question isn’t something Freyja used anyway, this feather cloak.”

While Kaya was dancing in the sky, she winked at Kazuki. That was the sign to use telepathy conversation in the middle of battle. Kazuki opened the wall of his heart, he received the telepathy message and adjusted his posture.

{My true color was exposed…the opponent will become serious soon you know, Onii-chan! Bother her constantly and don’t let her finish a high level magic!!}

To obstruct the enemy from chanting her spell, it was important to inflict damages to the opponent somehow. And in addition to that it was preferable to attack consecutively several times to annoy her.

But before Beatrix was a soldier, she was a fairly high level Magica Stigma.

He couldn’t obstruct her spell using half-hearted attack.

Just like what Kaya pointed out, a large magic power started to spun inside Beatrix.

Of course even while chanting her spell, Beatrix also commenced fierce attacks toward this side.

Kazuki took the stance of Iai in order to exchange swords with Beatrix once again.

―Suddenly Beatrix averted her attention away from Kazuki.

Beatrix’s target changed…to Lotte. Kazuki perceived that with Foresight, he moved even earlier than Beatrix in order to protect Lotte, but―

“…I’m going to accelerate for real…can you protect her, lad!”

―With explosive superhuman power, Beatrix slipped from Kazuki’s side.

She got through!? …Her speed surpassed even his imagination!

“Prophet, Blitz!”

Lotte pulled a net of electricity against Beatrix who came near like a surging wave.

“…You bastard, what is the meaning of this, how could you use the same magic like that lad…?”

Beatrix stuck it out even while the electricity hit her body and she swung down her sword to Lotte.

The [Seusenhofer] that protected Lotte’s body was pulverized in one hit.

However Lotte fired the gatling gun equipped in her right arm to Beatrix.

All the bullets were pretty small but it managed to stop Beatrix’s step a little.

In that time Mio’s Barrett flew.

In that interval Lotte chanted her spell with the high speed that marked the forte of Magica Stigma that was half possessed by her contracted Diva.

“Collider Field!”

An electromagnetic barrier expanded once more. Beatrix received the net of electricity and was stopped.

Finally Kazuki managed to chase Beatrix and interposed himself between Lotte and Beatrix. Lotte’s ability had the flexibility to cope with close-quarter combat as much as possible.

The four people concentrated their attacks again, Beatrix couldn’t help but interrupt her spell chanting.

…If they repeated this, they could win. But, the problem was…

Beatrix started the preparation of her high level magic from zero once more. Then,

“…The one who should be aimed is not this one…but over there!”

Beatrix’s line of sight moved to Mio.

…Mio couldn’t use her Summoning Magic to cope with close-quarter combat like Lotte!

Because he had the necessary sword skill to handle Beatrix in close-quarter combat, there was a risk that the opponent would move her target to his comrade. Of course Kazuki had already thought of that.

Naturally he had been aware of the difference in pure speed between him and Beatrix.

But as long he had the Foresight ability that was beaten into his body by his stepfather’s training, he could block Beatrix’s route even before she moved, he had the conviction to protect his comrade.

However Foresight’s advantage was overturned mercilessly―just like a swift Forwards that pierced through the defense line in soccer game―Beatrix used her explosive acceleration to slip past Kazuki.

An overwhelming individual battle strength to the degree that it overturned tactics.

If only he could chant Hiakari-san’s Moves in the Field, he could stop Beatrix.

If only he could use Hoshikaze-senpai’s Ride Lightning he could chase Beatrix, if only he could finish his spell chanting promptly like Kaguya-senpai…!

Those kind of thoughts flashed inside Kazuki’s mind. If only he was stronger…!

“Self Burning!”

Mio immediately chanted a defensive magic and prepared for the opponent’s attack.

Beatrix swung her sword downwards to Mio. Mio’s flame and Beatrix’s magic sword collided.

Before the flame could dissolve the sword, the magic power that covered the sword stole the heat from the flame and cooled the sword using Pyrokinesis to resist. The flame armor and the sword’s magic power offset and erased each other.

After an instant of rivalry, the flame armor was stamped out and Beatrix’s sword cut Mio up.

The light of defensive magic power scattered, Mio was blown off by the shockwave of the smashed magic.

“…Blazing Wings!”

However while Mio received damage, she chanted her spell. Mio flew to the sky using the strongest magic available to her. But for the current Beatrix, even the sky was not a safe area. Beatrix displayed an enhanced jumping power that could reach Mio’s height.

Mio mowed Beatrix using the wings of flame. Beatrix defends against that with her Sacred Treasure shield, <Svalinn>, fierce slash rained down at the sky.

Mio who was clad with flame wings was crashing down to the ground in one go by the destructive power of that one blow.

―Before comparing the difference in power, including those shield made their compatibility really bad!

Kazuki ran while feeling impatient.

Lotte’s gatling gun and Kaya’s summoned Demon Beast were attacking Beatrix, but she brushed off those and keep continuing her spell chanting, she approached Mio to pierce her with a finishing blow.

The one he need to protect was not only Lotte. Mio too…he absolutely wouldn’t let her get killed!

Kazuki charged in between Beatrix and Mio with a really close timing.

He redirected Beatrix’s sword with a risky distance.

However Beatrix who had her sword redirected grinned broadly.

“Onii-chan’s priority order is wrong! Stop her spell chanting even if Mio-chan is cut up!”

“…!”

The moment he noticed his blunder from Kaya’s rebuke, huge light exploded from the inside of Beatrix’s hand.

“Rage and blessing ran together in my war! As the agent of the god of war, I’ll bring down the rage and blessing of life to thy crown…Mjollnir!”

The explosive light was intensifying as the mark of the super high level magic, forming into a large hammer with short handle. The famous giant killing weapon told in legend that its military prowess surpassed even Odin synonymous with the god, Thor himself, <Mjolnir>. Its boorish appearance was typical of the Norse Mythology, just a plain hammer, however it probably possessed the strongest power in Norse Mythology. The hammer that boasted inexhaustible destructive power.

“You’re more naïve than I thought, lad. First starting from you―return back to {{furigana|Particles|Prima Material}}!”

Beatrix brandished her hammer right before Kazuki’s eyes.

“Onii-chan…you idiot!”

Kaya thrusted herself in front of Kazuki while yelling. The Fiaðrhamr that covered her body moved like it was protecting its wearer, it defended Kaya’s front part and turned into an enclosing wall.

Furthermore, Kaya even set up her Sacred Treasure, Burtgang and attempted to block Mjolnir.

“Self Burning!”

Kazuki immediately chanted a defensive magic. When he realized Kaya stood ahead to cover him, he controlled the flame armor fluidly and transferred it to Kaya.

Behind Kazuki too, Mio also took defensive action. Her flame wings that she still maintained were spread wide to its limit as much as possible, it wrapped around Kaya to protect her.

A total of four defensive layer. Mjolnir was swung downward against those.

Just as soon as they thought that they could hold against it―a shockwave sounds that resembled explosion rang out.

Their eardrum felt like it would burst just from the noises.

Kaya’s Fiaðrhamr and Burtgang, both of the Sacred Treasures were smashed by Mjolnir in one breath.

The two layer of flame were also pierced easily.

And then the last wall―Kaya’s defensive magic power held against Mjollnir stubbornly. The blue light shined intensely, thereafter the three people of Kazuki, Kaya, and Mio were blown off by the shockwave.

“…Kaya!?” Inside Kazuki’s mind, the majority of Kaya’s magic power were smashed and her breathing was rough.

“…I’m okay, I avoided instant death and magic intoxication. As expected, it was not nearly enough to just pile defenses like that. But, there is no second time. Mjolnir is not a magic that is unusable just by using it once…”

Kaya faced Kazuki and laughed provocatively.

“By the way, frankly if Onii-chan attack me right now and shaved off all my magic power, you’d have a chance to exterminate Loki inside me wouldn’t it?”

“Right now Kaya is my comrade. …I can’t do that kind of action.”

“Fufufuu, Onii-chan is naïve. Really…very naïve.”

Even though she said so in this kind of time, a heart mark flew floated from Kaya.

“…Loki. The god I serve had something he want to talk with you.”

Beatrix who was walking here removed her stance ad whispered.

At her side―an avatar of a giant man was floating. The ideal that the violent Vikings worshiped, a strong muscled soldier with red pupils and red beard.

“It’s not my real intention to subjugate you. Einherjar’s objective is the erasure of Charlotte Liebenfrau, Loki’s subjugation is nothing more than a pretext. It’s only a good opportunity.”

Thor talked with a grave tone of voice,

“Well, if you are going to exterminate me for real, there’d be no leisure to do it frivolously like this.”

Kaya who stood in Loki’s stand point insulted impudently.

“Our chief god, Odin wished to establish a place to talk with you.”

Kaya warped her expression hearing Thor’s words, she completely turned angry.

“Haa? Are you an idiot? …I’ll tell you what Loki is saying. Do you want a repeat of [{{furigana|Lokasenna|The Dispute in the Sea God’s Mansion }}] again, you shitty bastard!”

Kaya yelled the verbal message from Loki intensely complete with Loki’s own way of talking.

“I ain't got any plans to talk with you! No matter how many times I saw you guys' faces, I’ll always refute, blame, contempt, and defile your inconsistent conduct for sure!! And then I’ll murder the living shit of that shitty idiot Heimdall and that show-off geezer Odin, after that would be your turn, Thor!! The role to disgrace the pride of the ace of the gods is mine!”

“…I thought of you as my friend.”

“Aaaa, we have a lot reminiscence huuhh. We crossdressed together huh. …Shuut uppp idiooott! From the beginning I am a giant from Jotunheim! Half baked place like what you guys have, that is what I hated the most! …Well then! Midgardsormr!”

That snake was hiding inside the ground again!?

At the same time with Kazuki’s admiration to that shrewdness, a gigantic snake gushed out from inside the ground.

When Kaya leaped and mounted the snake, her expression that was full of anger softened and he faced Kazuki.

“Onii-chan, it’s impossible for me to continue the battle, so I’m escaping first. I’ll tell you the last plan from Loki…it’s Onii-chan’s naivety that made her equip Mjolnir and caused this desperate situation, but in Onii-chan’s naivety that thought of bonds as something important…there is still some winning chance. You understand right, what is his meaning.”

“{{furigana|Random Escape|Earth Escape Earth Beast}}!”

Kaya and the snake was absorbed into the ground with ‘zuruzuruzuru!’ and disappeared.

Thor’s avatar also disappeared along with Loki’s escape. Looks like he had no interest other than Loki.

“Well then…now is the time of despair for you who remained here.”

In her hand was a blunt and shining hammer of legend, Mjolnir.

They would be pulverized into Prime Material if they were hit with that, a weapon of absolute destruction.

“…It’s fine already, Kazuki-oniisan.”

Lotte interposed between Kazuki and Beatrix while her head was looking down dejectedly.

“If that woman got hold of me, Onii-san and Onee-san would be saved right?”

“Hmm, it’s like that. My mission is to kill you. Though it’s obvious that that lad and girl are ignoring their [Order to stay quiet] and came attacking me, but it might turn into problem later if I kill them.”

“Then I…I’ll resign myself properly…”

Resign…that’s why she says?

What was she doing…to talk about giving up like it was the correct thing to do…!

Tears were pooling inside Lotte’s eyes, she turned to Kazuki. Her face showed that she had thrown away all hopes to the extent that it pained him.

“I have been aware of this all along. I was aware of the feeling of everyone in my family using telepathy, that I brought unhappiness for them. I came to this country forcibly looking for asylum and everyone here had been kind to me since then, but…as expected, the black shadow came chasing me here…If it keeps like this, everyone is going to be unhappy…”

“Wait, what are you saying…Lotte!”

Mio raised a strained voice while looking at her back.

That’s right, there is no way anyone would agree with something like this.

Don’t say it, Kazuki begged. The next words that would come from her lips, Kazuki didn’t want to hear it from her.

“…As I thought, from the beginning I should stop struggling unsightly and accepted my fate of death desu…. It was only temporary, but the date was fun desu. Thank you very much…”

“Don’t screw with me! …To have to die even though you didn’t do anything wrong…I won’t allow that kind of fate! For Lotte to have to die…DON’T GO!”

Even in the case that Lotte herself gave up, even though it was my own selfishness, I won’t let her go!

Kazuki hugged Lotte’s back who walked powerlessly to Beatrix in despair. He forcibly turned that thin and frail body to face him.

“It’s okay to not peek at other people’s expression, it’s fine to not doubt whether yourself deserve happiness or not! All those anxiety and black shadow―I’ll never let any of that touch you anymore!”

Lotte cried back and went against Kazuki with tears flowing.

“Why! How could you say that you’d protect me in this kind of situation desu! …How could you say such impossible thing honestly from your heart, to make me hope like this…!!”

That might be so. A powerless human might not have the qualification to say that kind of thing.

…I want power. Power to protect those important to me.

“Even so…I can’t agree to something like this ! I want to protect Lotte!”

Kazuki―pressed his lips to Lotte. He kissed her in one breath and separated their lips.

“Kiss of oath…what Onii-san said before that it was only for an important person you bet your whole life to protect…”

She recalled it, the explanation about kiss that Kazuki spoke of before, Lotte whispered absentmindedly.

That moment, raging heat ran through Kazuki’s left hand to his whole body.

The heat was connected to Lotte―changing into circuits of magic power, there the Diva’s―the essence of power of the {{furigana|Diva|Prophet}} that even the Diva himself lost sight of, it headed to Kazuki and flowed into him.

“Lad, you bastard…what did you do just now, what is happening!? What in the world is that power…!?”

“Lotte…don’t say words like giving up for a second time! …{{furigana|I know thy true name|Shem ha Meforash}}!!”

The spell that appeared in his head―Chant it!

“Thy true name is…Prometheus! Oh you who had savored both the height of pride and the lowest of hardships! In accordance with my life, show those wisdom!!”

At Kazuki’s side―Prometheus whose form was a young boy until now materialized as a man in his prime of life with huge build.

Prometheus the Titan.

Even while he was a titan, at the Titanomachia between the gods of Olympus and the titans he foresighted the victory of the gods, the sage of wisdom at the side of the gods of Olympus.

After that following Zeus’s command, he created human race from the life of the earth, the father of everything.

The first humans didn’t even have furs or fangs, they were pitiful beings that did nothing but be afraid of the cold and beasts. Prometheus disobeyed Zeus’s command and granted the fire of civilization and words to humankind, he was [a person with even more compassion than god].

For that, Prometheus bore a long torture as punishment and he was continued to be detested by Zeus. And then in order to grant suffering to humans, Zeus directed Pandora and caused heavy floods.

―However humans, they who received strength from you who was in no way a god had never regret it in the least.

Owing to those things you provided to humans, we could help each other and able to live, the connection of bonds gave birth to infinite hopes.

For all those reason right now once more―lend me your power.

Your power…I swear I won’t use it for the wrong things!

For the natural desire as a human, so Lotte could believe…!

“Oh {{furigana|King|Basilleus}} who lived for the sake of others, naturally I will lend you my power.”

The titan Prometheus narrowed his silver eyes and smiled gently.

“Prometheus of the Greece Mythology…unthinkable big shot from the Chaos Side is coming out here! So that guy is this lad contracted Diva! Interesting…let’s see those strength!!”

“Oh seer who became father, if you discover hope in my future…cast the weapon to this hand for the sake to open up the future! …{{furigana|Olympia Forger|Fire of Civilization}}!!”

Prometheus lighted up silver light of magic power. That was the magic power that was going through the circuit to Kazuki’s soul and hailed each other. Prometheus’ silver body flickered like a giant flame itself, and it was absorbed into the katana in Kazuki’s hand, <Raikiri>. That huge magic power changed its form into the most suitable [Weapon] according to Kazuki’s soul.

Prometheus’ ultimate magic was [Weapon Creation]. He grasped it, and without meaning to a smile floated in his face.

The weapon that Prometheus brought forth to Kazuki was―a Japanese katana. A katana that was the exact match if Kazuki himself imagined his own ideal blade. In its scabbard and handle, there were no ornament at all, a very simple shape.

It was so familiar, like he had already grasped this katana from the time he was born until now.

Kazuki gripped the katana tightly and confronted Beatrix.

“Let’s separate from Mio and Lotte. This will become a fight so dangerous if they were mixed up into it.”

Beatrix laughed pleasantly hearing Kazuki’s exaggerated words.

“Fufufu, soldier and soldier encountered each other in an interesting battle. My soul would be invited to Valhalla even if I am to die here, by no means I would regret those end. …Let’s go lad!”

Beatrix stepped forward while brandishing Mjolnir.

Kazuki drew the Japanese katana he received from Prometheus from its scabbard and met her attack.

The hammer’s direct hit and the katana’s Iai draw clashed.

Vast magic powers were clashing, those magic powers waves distorted ‘gunyari’ the surrounding space.

“A low grade weapon that is only the embodiment of human’s soul―no way it could go against [Thor’s Hammer]!”

An instant, Kazuki could feel the other side’s pressure exceeded him. However―

“Inside me, my father’s…human’s technique exist!”

Toward the other side’s pressure that exceeded him slightly, Kazuki controlled the blade of his katana delicately and redirected it. Beatrix hit empty air and gouged a huge crater in the shopping arcade.

Kazuki’s Instant Positioning destroyed Beatrix’s posture.

However before Kazuki could slash his second blade, she fixed her posture forcibly by the usage of reinforcement magic. Thereafter from the position of fifty-fifty, the katana and hammer collided.

“…So it’s even!” Beatrix raised a voice dyed in delight.

Along with the tremendous energy Mjolnir produced, Prometheus’ magic katana also amplified Kazuki’s magic power dozens of times and resisted back.

Kazuki was redirecting, Beatrix retaliated with brute force, technique and strength met for the second times, third times, clashing against each other.

Kazuki looked for the instant where his opponent would show an opening, Beatrix used herculean strength to press Kazuki.

That moment of offense and defense―

“Kuh!” Kazuki couldn’t redirected Beatrix’s pressure, his posture was staggered.

“Got you!”

Without overlooking that opening, Beatrix let Mjolnir loose toward Kazuki’s flesh body.

―Just according to Kazuki’s invitation.

“…Oh immortal bird who soar from dusk till dawn, bestow those wings of hope in my back! Destruction for the sake of rebirth right here! Blazing Wings!”

From the posture where he couldn’t possibly do something like retaliation, Kazuki created wings in his back and flew.

Beatrix’s single attack with her whole strength was caught in surprise perfectly and hit the empty air.

“The bonds that I have, are not only one!”

Immediately following the level 10 magic, he chanted the level 5 magic, while holding his consciousness which was currently in a precarious state, Kazuki shouted like he was cheering himself .

“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“Multiple type summoning magic!? Lad, don’t tell me…you bastard are this country’s <King>!?”

Light was emitted from the sword that was slashed diagonally starting from Beatrix’s shoulder.

[[image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.02 217.jpg|thumb]]

The Japanese katana that was the personification of Kazuki’s soul didn’t cut Beatrix’s flesh, it only destroyed her magic power, Beatrix fell into magic intoxication. She fell down like a doll with her string cut.

The wings of flame vanished scattering grains of light, the Japanese katana that was blessed with Prometheus’ divine protection returned back to Raikiri. While making sure of Beatrix’s defeat, Kazuki felt an intense mental fatigue, he fell to his knee while landing in that place.

Lotte approached that Kazuki’s back and hugged him tightly.

Wordlessly, Lotte leaked out sobbing voices.

“…You understood right? There is no need for you to feel any kind of uneasiness anymore.”

Toward the words that Kazuki squeezed out, Lotte replied with “Thank you so much.”

“…What should I do, the hollow me who came to this country…Onii-chan had became everything inside this hollow me already.”

While crying, she told Kazuki while blushing.

Mio walked near the two people.

“Kazuki…what in the world is your ability?”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

{{SimpleNav}}
</noinclude>

Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T04:46:41Z

Armando99: /* 6 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames hava high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren used, as he swung it to intervene with the flames coming towards him.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well it was a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away, and swung his sword slanted from a lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who senses the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such a skillful person so I was surprised by you. I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of the flames lurked in the surrounding area.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frightened with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason, he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools given to her by Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down on him as she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to slowly give out a red glow.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bathe in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down to Ren who was standing below her eyes. The lava flow came rushing at him powerfully, like an avalanche, while devouring everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be guarded or intervened with. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren tightly gripped the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence, the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............did not happen since he instantly disappeared from sight.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when Ren’s sword strike had caught the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word, said by the Demon. Ren took distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made from steel rusted in an instant, by the high intense heat of the miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon stroked the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into the current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson color which was close to that of blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Did this whole mountain get covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away without even flames actually appearing and burning it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just calmly stood there, while she had red lights pouring on her.

The rains of light, there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rain, it changed its course while dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target and burned it away.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that, the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel, which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more, played a role. But even still, a single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course, when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. She even pushed him to strive even further. That experience is now bearing fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like very small bombs, exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound as it hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He tightly gripped the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her, who had replied to her as such, while breathing heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head, eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balanced, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become a member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it, while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from a variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in an instant, without needing to transform back into a Dragon, if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fallen but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten to your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment, being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline, who had reached out to her die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined at the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain, there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its color. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson were numerous flashes just like a meteor shower.

The small light which had the size of a raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it, and turned the ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword in which the blade was broken from the middle, and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pouring from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above in the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s spell while responding to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality, the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning, had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach, she had been using resurrection spells on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle; therefore: Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave for pity or for praise?

Rumble!

The red, scorching, burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were powerful, red molten lava bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the boy suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already gotten close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue color.

''“That’s the sword used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven, and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero that he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves, created from the red scorching flames, filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there were scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time remembering my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continued to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment when the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon, who was on her knees in silence, without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeated her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips were shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him, so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse, while he gazed at the disappearing sword.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind, when she saw the boy smile firmly, even though he was in such a state.

“…………”

Kyelse however, had put her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had, when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest fill with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached the front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse gently embraced the wounded boy, and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wielded by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby, who are also Achendia’s henchmen, and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such a young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord, who acted in such way, was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T04:42:51Z

Armando99: /* 5 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames hava high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren used, as he swung it to intervene with the flames coming towards him.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well it was a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away, and swung his sword slanted from a lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who senses the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such a skillful person so I was surprised by you. I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of the flames lurked in the surrounding area.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frightened with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason, he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools given to her by Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down on him as she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to slowly give out a red glow.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bathe in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down to Ren who was standing below her eyes. The lava flow came rushing at him powerfully, like an avalanche, while devouring everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be guarded or intervened with. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren tightly gripped the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence, the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............did not happen since he instantly disappeared from sight.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when Ren’s sword strike had caught the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word, said by the Demon. Ren took distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made from steel rusted in an instant, by the high intense heat of the miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon stroked the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into the current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson color which was close to that of blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Did this whole mountain get covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away without even flames actually appearing and burning it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just calmly stood there, while she had red lights pouring on her.

The rains of light, there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rain, it changed its course while dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target and burned it away.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that, the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel, which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more, played a role. But even still, a single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course, when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. She even pushed him to strive even further. That experience is now bearing fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like very small bombs, exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound as it hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He tightly gripped the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her, who had replied to her as such, while breathing heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head, eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balanced, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become a member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it, while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from a variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in an instant, without needing to transform back into a Dragon, if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fallen but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten to your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment, being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline, who had reached out to her die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined at the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain, there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its color. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson were numerous flashes just like a meteor shower.

The small light which had the size of a raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it, and turned the ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword in which the blade was broken from the middle, and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pouring from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above in the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s spell while responding to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality, the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning, had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach, she had been using resurrection spells on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle; therefore: Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave for pity or for praise?

Rumble!

The red, scorching, burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were powerful, red molten lava bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the boy suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already gotten close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue color.

''“That’s the sword used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven, and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero that he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves, created from the red scorching flames, filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there were scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time remembering my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continued to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment when the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon, who was on her knees in silence, without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeated her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips were shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him, so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse, while he gazed at the disappearing sword.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind, when she saw the boy smile firmly, even though he was in such a state.

“…………”

Kyelse however, had put her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had, when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest fill with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached the front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse gently embraced the wounded boy, and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T04:28:53Z

Armando99: /* 4 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames hava high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren used, as he swung it to intervene with the flames coming towards him.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well it was a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away, and swung his sword slanted from a lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who senses the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such a skillful person so I was surprised by you. I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of the flames lurked in the surrounding area.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frightened with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason, he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools given to her by Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down on him as she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to slowly give out a red glow.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bathe in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down to Ren who was standing below her eyes. The lava flow came rushing at him powerfully, like an avalanche, while devouring everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be guarded or intervened with. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren tightly gripped the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence, the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............did not happen since he instantly disappeared from sight.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when Ren’s sword strike had caught the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word, said by the Demon. Ren took distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made from steel rusted in an instant, by the high intense heat of the miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon stroked the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into the current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson color which was close to that of blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Did this whole mountain get covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away without even flames actually appearing and burning it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just calmly stood there, while she had red lights pouring on her.

The rains of light, there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rain, it changed its course while dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target and burned it away.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that, the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel, which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more, played a role. But even still, a single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course, when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. She even pushed him to strive even further. That experience is now bearing fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like very small bombs, exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound as it hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He tightly gripped the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her, who had replied to her as such, while breathing heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head, eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balanced, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become a member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it, while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from a variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in an instant, without needing to transform back into a Dragon, if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fallen but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten to your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment, being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline, who had reached out to her die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined at the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain, there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its color. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson were numerous flashes just like a meteor shower.

The small light which had the size of a raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it, and turned the ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword in which the blade was broken from the middle, and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pouring from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above in the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s spell while responding to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality, the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning, had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach, she had been using resurrection spells on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle; therefore: Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave for pity or for praise?

Rumble!

The red, scorching, burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were powerful, red molten lava bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the boy suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already gotten close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue color.

''“That’s the sword used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven, and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero that he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
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“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T04:11:51Z

Armando99: /* 3 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames hava high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren used, as he swung it to intervene with the flames coming towards him.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well it was a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away, and swung his sword slanted from a lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who senses the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such a skillful person so I was surprised by you. I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of the flames lurked in the surrounding area.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frightened with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason, he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools given to her by Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down on him as she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to slowly give out a red glow.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bathe in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down to Ren who was standing below her eyes. The lava flow came rushing at him powerfully, like an avalanche, while devouring everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be guarded or intervened with. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren tightly gripped the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence, the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............did not happen since he instantly disappeared from sight.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when Ren’s sword strike had caught the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word, said by the Demon. Ren took distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made from steel rusted in an instant, by the high intense heat of the miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon stroked the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into the current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson color which was close to that of blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Did this whole mountain get covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away without even flames actually appearing and burning it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just calmly stood there, while she had red lights pouring on her.

The rains of light, there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rain, it changed its course while dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target and burned it away.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that, the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel, which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more, played a role. But even still, a single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course, when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. She even pushed him to strive even further. That experience is now bearing fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like very small bombs, exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound as it hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He tightly gripped the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her, who had replied to her as such, while breathing heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head, eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balanced, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become a member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it, while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from a variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in an instant, without needing to transform back into a Dragon, if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fallen but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten to your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment, being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline, who had reached out to her die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined at the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T03:53:19Z

Armando99: /* 3 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames hava high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren used, as he swung it to intervene with the flames coming towards him.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well it was a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away, and swung his sword slanted from a lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who senses the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such a skillful person so I was surprised by you. I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of the flames lurked in the surrounding area.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frightened with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason, he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools given to her by Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down on him as she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to slowly give out a red glow.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bathe in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down to Ren who was standing below her eyes. The lava flow came rushing at him powerfully, like an avalanche, while devouring everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be guarded or intervened with. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren tightly gripped the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence, the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............did not happen since he instantly disappeared from sight.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when Ren’s sword strike had caught the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word, said by the Demon. Ren took distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made from steel rusted in an instant, by the high intense heat of the miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon stroked the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into the current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson color which was close to that of blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Did this whole mountain get covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away without even flames actually appearing and burning it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just calmly stood there, while she had red lights pouring on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rain, it changed its course while dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target until it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that, the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T03:08:17Z

Armando99: /* 3 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain, where there wasn’t even the slightest sign of parties, and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support himself and stood up on his own, while his body was full of cuts and bruises.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure came up with an interesting tactic when you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive any wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, he suddenly took action without even thinking and finding the reason to do so, just to get the Demon General of Blaze away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relationship between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself. It was the most painful experience I ever had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during those three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have any friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well what it means to have comrades, more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“Don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames had high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, but it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} of fire which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren had swung and intervene with the flames the sword had been swung towards.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well was it a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away and swung his sword slanted from lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who sensors the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such skillful person so I was surprised by you so I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of flames which lurked in the surrounding.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frighten with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools he was given from Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down at him which she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to give red glow slowly.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bath in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down at Ren who was standing below her eyes where the lava flow came rushing at him powerfully like an avalanche while it devoured everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be intervened nor cannot be guarded it. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around him.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause which was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape from this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow which was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close to him that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren gripped tightly of the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless of flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............wasn’t what happened since he disappeared from the sight instantly.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when the strike of Ren’s sword had captured the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word said by the Demon. Ren took a distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword which had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made by steel rusted in instance by the high intense heat of miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools which he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon who stroke the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson colour which was close to that of a blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Has this whole mountain got covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away in instant without even flames actually appear and burn it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what a real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just stood there calmly while she had red lights pour on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rains it changed its course while it was dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target till it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T02:47:52Z

Armando99: /* 2 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretful but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces, then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them, including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest loss.

“It would be a timed attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to the crater which was the origin of the flowing magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s a great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt bowed to Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome would be an opponent who could reflect spells.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much would my ability work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circles appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent fearlessly.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that earlier spell reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl, who was known as the former Demon Lord, becomes filled with ominous and cold light making Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had spells activated, started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon appeared.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. There is no Demon who wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with a fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t show the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required consumption of a great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only a very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bound her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! Several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it here for several minutes, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess answered with a smile on her face.

“But, let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had an overwhelming dignity, and miasma enveloped her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain where there wasn’t even the slightest sight of parties and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support his body and stood himself while his whole body had received bruises and cuts.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure come up with an interesting tactic where you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive anything which you would describe it as wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, the action he suddenly took without even thinking and finding the reason to do so was anyway to have the Demon General of Blaze get away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relation between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself which was the most painful experience I had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during the three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well of what it means to have comrades more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise who had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“But don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames had high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, but it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} of fire which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren had swung and intervene with the flames the sword had been swung towards.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well was it a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away and swung his sword slanted from lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who sensors the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such skillful person so I was surprised by you so I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of flames which lurked in the surrounding.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frighten with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools he was given from Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down at him which she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to give red glow slowly.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bath in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down at Ren who was standing below her eyes where the lava flow came rushing at him powerfully like an avalanche while it devoured everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be intervened nor cannot be guarded it. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around him.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause which was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape from this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow which was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close to him that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren gripped tightly of the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless of flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............wasn’t what happened since he disappeared from the sight instantly.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when the strike of Ren’s sword had captured the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word said by the Demon. Ren took a distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword which had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made by steel rusted in instance by the high intense heat of miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools which he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon who stroke the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson colour which was close to that of a blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Has this whole mountain got covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away in instant without even flames actually appear and burn it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what a real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just stood there calmly while she had red lights pour on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rains it changed its course while it was dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target till it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
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“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T02:25:11Z

Armando99: /* 2 */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held the chills he was feeling and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are the kind of human who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned and demolished the huge rocks.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into a pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within a wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren couldn’t possibly understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon landing on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles along with hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses that high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rust. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disintegrated in an instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse simply approached her.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me even with only half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your loss would be that there hasn’t been much time since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

Purple-coloured spell-circles appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barriers made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned the four phantoms. I pity you since your senses were still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it was restraining her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed, where she than fell at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you completely powerless before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat, within her palm, which was burning so much that it was so bright——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was very cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay attention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——At the same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts up the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and both fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake shook the slope of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave passed consecutively through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon, who were exchanging punches in close-range, within breathing distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bent her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face from excitement with her skirt gently blown by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an insect's exoskeleton.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretting but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest lost.

“It would be a time attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which was had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to origin of the crater which was boiling out the magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s an great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt and bowed at Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome an opponent who could reflect spells would be.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much my ability would work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise who clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circle appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect it.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent with eyes which could be taken as fearless eyes.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that spell from earlier reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl who shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl who was known as the former Demon Lord becomes filled with ominous and cold light which made Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had activated spells started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon showed up.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. No Demon wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with it. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t have the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required to consume great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bind her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! And several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it for several mintues here, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess who answered with a smile on her face.

“But let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had overwhelming dignity and miasma envelop her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain where there wasn’t even the slightest sight of parties and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support his body and stood himself while his whole body had received bruises and cuts.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure come up with an interesting tactic where you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive anything which you would describe it as wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, the action he suddenly took without even thinking and finding the reason to do so was anyway to have the Demon General of Blaze get away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relation between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself which was the most painful experience I had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during the three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well of what it means to have comrades more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise who had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“But don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames had high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, but it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} of fire which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren had swung and intervene with the flames the sword had been swung towards.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well was it a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away and swung his sword slanted from lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who sensors the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such skillful person so I was surprised by you so I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of flames which lurked in the surrounding.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frighten with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools he was given from Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down at him which she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to give red glow slowly.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bath in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down at Ren who was standing below her eyes where the lava flow came rushing at him powerfully like an avalanche while it devoured everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be intervened nor cannot be guarded it. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around him.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause which was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape from this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow which was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close to him that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren gripped tightly of the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless of flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............wasn’t what happened since he disappeared from the sight instantly.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when the strike of Ren’s sword had captured the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word said by the Demon. Ren took a distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword which had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made by steel rusted in instance by the high intense heat of miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools which he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon who stroke the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson colour which was close to that of a blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Has this whole mountain got covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away in instant without even flames actually appear and burn it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what a real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just stood there calmly while she had red lights pour on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rains it changed its course while it was dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target till it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T01:54:16Z

Armando99: /* Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire—— */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren, with Kyelse grabbing his collar, was being shaken around.

“That proves how amazing Fear-senpai’s divine tool is.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren while looking happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while immediately taking down the enemies.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while following after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members were watching such scenery in a daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive at the summit, while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons who blocked their way, as they also aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon calmly stood there, smiling as she had the crater boil out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed by it. And her golden-coloured eyes made her look like a female leopard.

Simply, her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place, she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze kept her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had a fearless glow in her golden eyes.

“So are you saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch, who would entertain us even more, showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to break through you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and every one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation”, who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk, said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with all of you on behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us, but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered, was a crimson Demon, who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blowing behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glaring at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had a lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there the reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls simply by that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. Don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held his chills and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are kind of humans who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise's, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord's? Elise is having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned the huge rocks and demolished them.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren possibly couldn’t understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon that had landed on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles and hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses which high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rusts. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disassembled in instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse approached her simply.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me with even the half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your lost would be that there hasn’t been much days since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

The purple-coloured spell-circle which appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barrier made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned four phantoms. I pity you since your senses was still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it restrained her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed where she than felled at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you powerless completely before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat which was burning so much that it made it bright within her palm——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was too cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay intention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——The same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and thus the both of them fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake that shook the slop of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave consecutively passed through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon who were exchanging punches within close-range within the breath distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bended her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction which continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face due to excitement and her skirt was gently breezed by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an exoskeleton of an insect.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretting but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest lost.

“It would be a time attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which was had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to origin of the crater which was boiling out the magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s an great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt and bowed at Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome an opponent who could reflect spells would be.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much my ability would work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise who clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circle appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect it.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent with eyes which could be taken as fearless eyes.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that spell from earlier reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl who shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl who was known as the former Demon Lord becomes filled with ominous and cold light which made Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had activated spells started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon showed up.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. No Demon wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with it. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t have the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required to consume great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bind her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! And several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it for several mintues here, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess who answered with a smile on her face.

“But let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had overwhelming dignity and miasma envelop her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain where there wasn’t even the slightest sight of parties and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support his body and stood himself while his whole body had received bruises and cuts.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure come up with an interesting tactic where you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive anything which you would describe it as wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, the action he suddenly took without even thinking and finding the reason to do so was anyway to have the Demon General of Blaze get away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relation between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself which was the most painful experience I had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during the three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well of what it means to have comrades more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise who had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“But don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames had high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, but it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} of fire which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren had swung and intervene with the flames the sword had been swung towards.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well was it a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away and swung his sword slanted from lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who sensors the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such skillful person so I was surprised by you so I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of flames which lurked in the surrounding.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frighten with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools he was given from Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down at him which she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to give red glow slowly.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bath in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down at Ren who was standing below her eyes where the lava flow came rushing at him powerfully like an avalanche while it devoured everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be intervened nor cannot be guarded it. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around him.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause which was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape from this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow which was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close to him that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren gripped tightly of the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless of flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............wasn’t what happened since he disappeared from the sight instantly.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when the strike of Ren’s sword had captured the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word said by the Demon. Ren took a distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword which had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made by steel rusted in instance by the high intense heat of miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools which he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon who stroke the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson colour which was close to that of a blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Has this whole mountain got covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away in instant without even flames actually appear and burn it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what a real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just stood there calmly while she had red lights pour on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rains it changed its course while it was dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target till it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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Sekai no Owari no Encore:Volume 1 Record.5

2015-05-10T01:25:10Z

Armando99: /* Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire—— */

==Record.5: It, the Conqueror of Fire——==

===1===

The Great Volcano of Galia.

An active volcano which erupted approximately one-thousand years ago where you could still see gas billowing out from its crater. Even now the ground was covered by pumice stone, volcaniclastic materials from back when the magma cooled down and solidified.

At the junction of its three paths.

“Elise should have taken the right path and Fear, the middle path, aiming towards the summit.”

“Then we will be taking the left path huh.”

To reach the summit, the junction of the three paths should each connect to the three different routes.

The middle path which Fear took should be the shortest, but there would most likely be many Demons guarding it. Predicting that, Elise took the route which would have the longest distance to reach the summit.

As such, the route Ren would take would be the remaining route which was the left path from the junction of the three paths.

“——We should move fast.”

They climbed up the volcano’s path. Even though they should already have reached halfway up, not meeting the other parties impliep they had a late start.

"It's natural that at this time, the parties that advanced up the mountain should have started battling Achendias' minions." Don’t lower your guard since we don’t know where a high-level Demon would be lurking.”

“......Roger that. By the way, do you know the situation of the battle?”

“The parties have mostly been annihilated. The Demons have left their miasma everywhere.”

“It can’t be!?”

“They were weak parties lured here by hearing the name of the Five Great Disaster. This would be a natural outcome if this was their first battle with high-level Demons. There won’t be a problem though since Fear and Elise would be rescuing them.”

Kyelse climbed up the mountain in a lightly manner as if she was skipping.

“If the parties worked together, they may have been able to put on an even fight.”

“……That’s only if they headed to the mountain together.”

Not only did they not work cooperatively, it instead turned into a time attack battle where each party would first aim for the Five Great Disaster.

And the one who triggered such situation was none other than the five member party formed by Ren’s seniors. As a result, each party would get taken down by the Five Great Disaster’s henchmen on their own game.

And then——

Without any warning, a circular symbol, glowing in crimson-colour appeared on the ground.

“A spell!?”

Ren kicked the ground to evade it.

That moment, flames shaped like a giant dragon almost grazed Ren’s back and soared up the sky.

“Huh? He dodged it, Ranaku.”

“That’s a rare sight, isn’t it? Looks like he has good reflexes for a human, Kanaku.”

Two winged Demons appeared from the sky.

Pale skinned children with a solid yet transparent wings. Despite their adorable appearance making them appear like fairies, the expressions on their faces were like carnivores who had found their prey.

“It will be a competition since we can report this to Achendia-sama.”

“Which one of us can——”

“Eyesore.”

The two Demons, with their miasma around them were blasted away by explosions around them.

“……H-Huh? It ended already?”

“I don’t have time to waste for novice Demons that doesn’t even know who I am. Let’s get going.”

The Dragon Princess started running ahead without waiting for Ren’s response.

“H-Hey? Was it okay to blast them away like that?”

“Dang it. I should have blasted them away after making them tell us where Achendia’s location is.”

“That’s not what I meant! Wouldn’t they also be considered as Elise’s former henchmen?”

The Dragons, the Angels, and the Demons were the three beings representing the earth, the Heaven, and the Underground, respectively. If Kyelse who was a Dragon carelessly attacked them, then there would be a possibility that it willhinder the balance of the three worlds.

“The Demons strength lies in their toughness. Just like Elise’s ability to reincarnate.”

“What do you mean?”

“Even if I did “destroy” them here, they won’t be “annihilated”. Either way, the Demons here are a bunch that betrayed the Demon Lord of the Underworld. It won’t be a problem if I lay hand on them. More importantly, don’t assume it would end with those two. There’s more coming.”

The area where the battle took place between the parties and the Demons. If those two were the scouts——

“What……is this powerful presence? A Dragon!?”

“No, wait. What is up with this abnormal pressure? It can’t be?”

“That legendary——”

“Just get lost.”

There are three Demons that appeared from the ground. But even they were defeated by Kyelse's round kick, without putting a fight.

“Ah, geez. I can’t stand this! Because of that seal!”

“……Even though you are saying that, that was too easy for you.”

Kyelse was taking down the Demons as they appeared.

Not even one of the Demons, who would be a threat to the human’s party, could be a hindrance to her.

And then——

“! Are all of you okay!?”

Ren in a rush, headed to the party of six that were on the ground.

Maybe they received a surprise attack from the Demons which Kyelse had just defeated. The party formed by the two {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, the two {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}}, a {{Furigana|Predator|HUNTER}}, and a {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} were all burned up and lying on the ground.

“……Did you two h……help……us……?”

The {{Furigana|Curer|HEALER}} girl opened her eyes a bit.

“Your injuries?”

“……It’s not a fatal injury. Even I can heal……injuries of this degree……”

She stood up weakly.

“Go ahead. There were parties ahead of us. Elmekia Dusk and a party formed by young people.”

“Elmekia Dusk!? So they passed through here!”

“Yes. That party……their strength were on a different level……they headed for the summit while overcoming high-level Demons.”

“Thanks, I was wondering about them.”

Ren faced towards Kyelse and nodded. Then they ran up through the path heading towards the summit.

“Ren——”

“I know. The young party that girl mentioned must be my seniors from the academy. I assume they progressed through this route by using anti-Demon barrier since one of them was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}}.”

“But that spell won’t work on high-level Demons, you know?”

You could separate the sources of spells used by humans into two major categories.

The destruction-type spells copied from the spells used by the Demons——magic and attack spells would be included here.

The protection-type spells copied from the spells used by the Angels——de-spell and defence spells would be included here.

Among these two categories, the anti-Demon barrier would be taken from the Angels’ spells.

The effect it has against the regular Demons would be high, but it was merely an inferior spells used by humans. It wouldn’t work against high-level Demons with overwhelming power.

“……I thought I already knew this.”

Ren realised once again after witnessing the fallen party.

The ones that were able to compete with the high-level Demons, the rulers of the Underworld, were a portion of the parties such as the Elmekia Dusk. They were not an opponent that a novice party should challenge in a rush.

——Screams.

It was then when Ren heard familiar screams coming from above.

“We were late……! Senpai!?”

The {{Furigana|Caster|ARIA}} who barely was conscious had his knee on the ground.

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} student who was using his sword to support his body didn’t move an inch. Standing next to him was a {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl who was looking at the Demon in front of her with expression filled with terror.

“Ren!?”

The {{Furigana|Knight|MASTER}} opened his eyes wide while breathing heavily.

Without even answering him,

“The aura of your power isn’t bad. You are such a waste to be Achendia’s henchman.”

“This smell, the Heavenly Silver Dragon!”

Kyelse’s punch and the large Demon’s punch. Both fist clashed creating a flash which burned the eyes. A powerful shock which could even distort space passed through the scene.

“What the……!?”

The silver haired girl who took the attack of a Demon head on.

Seeing such situation, the five academy graduates screamed in shock.

''——Unbelievable.''

''——Such small girl countered the attack of a high-level Demon.''

Everyone had their eyes pop out while such thought passed through their mind.

“Senpai, behind you!”

Only Ren was staring ia a completely different direction.

A dangerous presence which appeared behind them.

A Demon which had an appearance of a brown lion, whose colour was its main trait. Ren certainly saw the four legged beast stood firmly on the ground while it lit a crimson glow in its mouth.

“Senpai, watch out!”

“Ren!? Stop, you will——”

Kyelse’s scream could be heard. The instant the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero pushed away the {{Furigana|Barrierer|ENCHANTER}} girl, his body was enveloped by the crimson flames.

“Re————”

“Thanks. You saved me again.”

But the crimson flames were compressed in the empty air.

There was one boy who calmly stood right after the burning flames turned into small sparks.

He had a spirit which was glowing brilliantly and sitting on his right shoulder.

“The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!? Ren, when on earth did you master it!?”

“Ancient summoning! You are telling me there is a human who can command the spirits who exists in this era!?”

The Demon which had the appearance of a lion shivered.

Ren used that slight opening to mow down the lion’s body as he passed by it.

“……Splendid……”

That Demon disappeared like a shimmer of hot air.

Besides it, another Demon defeated by Kyelse perished.

“Ren, what’s going on!? Since when did you become capable of using spirit summoning!?”

“Ouch, it hurts! Rather, my eyes are spinning! Calm down!”

Ren with his collar grabbed by Kyelse, was being shaken around by her.

“That proves how much Fear-senpai’s divine tool is amazing.”

“But……even so……no, let’s leave it for now. Though it was beyond what I expected——”

The spirit which had an appearance of a winged lizard.

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which looked like a small red Dragon disappeared. Kyelse who saw that turned around to Ren where she looked happy.

“That was a great job coming from you. There isn’t much distance left till we reach the summit so we will keep on going while taking down the enemies immediately.”

“Yeah.”

Kyelse who advanced ten metres ahead with a single step.

Ren ran while he followed after her.

At the mountain path where it had become silent——

The party of five members was watching such scenery in daze.

<center>==========</center>

Near the crater of the Great Volcano of Galia.

“Looks like this is it for you.”

“Achendia the Demon General of Blaze. The great Demon who was even called a Five Great Disaster. We would never have thought you would flee while leaving your henchmen behind. Looks like the name of the legendary Demon had fallen.”

The five humans that were wearing black battle wear.

The Elmekia Dusk——. They were the only ones who managed to arrive to the summit while the other parties were defeated one after another by the Demons that came in their way as they aimed for the volcano’s summit.

“Pretty skilled there. I never have thought all of you would catch up to me by using {{Furigana|pursuit spells|trace}}.

The great Demon stood there calmly while she had a smile on her face as she had the crater boiled out magma behind her.

——Demon General of Blaze, Achendia.

Her crimson hair which looked like scorched heat was possessed in it. And her golden-coloured eyes which made her appeared like a female leopard.

Simply her appearance was that of a fascinating woman.

Her appearance was that of a woman in her mid-twenties. Though the dress she was wearing had a brilliant red colour, she was equipped with an unknown precious metal on her wrists and neck.

“Now then. What shall I do?”

Behind her was a precipitous cliff. If she stepped in a wrong place she would fall into the boiling magma. Even though she was in a situation where she was cornered, the Demon General of Blaze didn’t get rid of her confident smile.

“We warn you. If you don’t want to suffer then leave this mountain immediately.”

“Oh? Is that supposed to be some human’s joke?”

The great Demon who had her golden eyes fearlessly glowed.

“So you are saying you would fight us?”

“Such dummies. I wasn’t talking about that. What I was wondering was——should Mii reveal myself.”

The spouted flames enveloped around the Demon General.

“……What!? Who are you?”

“Hello there. I think your party was called the Elmekia Dusk, wasn’t it? Anyways, good job.”

The white haired little girl who sat on the giant orb which was floating in the air.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama, Mii of the “Imitation”. Let’s get along.”

“A fake! Then where is the real Five Great Disaster——”

The Demon answered with an innocent chuckle.

“Achendia-sama was also bored so she could have played with all of you. But an interesting bunch who would entertain us even more showed up exactly then. So we needed the pests to be removed.”

“An interesting bunch?”

“Yup. Mii was also shocked. I would never have thought there would be a reincarnation of the legend from three-hundred years ago.”

“……Your words don’t make any sense. But we simply need to breakthrough you and reach the Demon General of Blaze.”

The party of five humans in black attire.

Each and one of them were professional {{Furigana|Knights|MASTERS}}, as well as being {{Furigana|Casters|ARIAS}} and {{Furigana|Barrierers|ENCHANTERS}}.

“Terrific. It’s been a while since I met humans that are worth the fight.”

She sat on a pearl-coloured orb.

Mii of the “Imitation” who was opposing the Elmekia Dusk said it with a chilling smile.

“I will play with the all of you on the behalf of Achendia-sama. Shall we start then?”

===2===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

“This was unexpected.”

That was the first thing Kyelse said to the Demon standing in front of her.

“I thought more of your so-called trusted retainers would be waiting for us but you came all the way here to meet us?”

“It’s called special treatment. After all, it had been awhile since we last met.”

The one who answered was a crimson Demon who was the highest-class Demon.

The Demon General of Blaze, Achendia. She had her crimson hair blow behind her and didn’t lose her smile despite Kyelse glared at her.

“Has it been three-hundred and five years ago since we last met? But I’m surprised. It seems like the former Demon Lord-sama and the strongest Archangel in Heaven is with you as well. I can’t believe it. If Elline was also alive, then it would have been the reincarnation of the legendary party.”

“……Elline isn’t here anymore. He was a human. So he had lifespan.”

“Then is that boy over there his reincarnation of Elline? He resembles him so much.”

The Five Great Disaster’s gaze moved to Ren.

The golden-eyes like that of a female leopard. She was looking at him. Ren couldn’t help but feel cold sweats pouring from his back like waterfalls by simply that.

''——She’s different.''

''The presence of the Demon in front of me is in a different league to the Demons I have encountered till now.''

Even Ren who simply stood in front of her could realise that. She looked like a human with a quick look. But the miasma and pressure which poured from her body was completely different to the other Demons.

“So? Are you?”

“You should know the answer already. You don’t even think I’m Elline’s reincarnation.”

Ren held his chills and answered by keeping his tone down.

“Heh? I like it. You are kind of humans who knows his place.”

“……There’s one thing I want to ask.”

Ren looked straight at the Demon with such overwhelming presence.

“You were a Demon General who was previously the subordinate of Elise, right? I heard that you rebelled because Elise resigned from her post as a Demon Lord and didn’t like the current Demon-Lord.”

“Hmm? Well, I guess you aren’t far off.”

“Then couldn’t you just remain as Elise, the former Demon Lord’s, subordinate instead of the current Demon Lord? Elise was having trouble since her body turned into that state. Didn’t you think of helping her?”

“That’s out of the question.”

That became the final verdict of a Demon who was once the candidate to become a Demon Lord.

“To be honest, the current Elise doesn’t appeal to me at all. Especially as someone who once knew of her beauty, strength, and brutality. More importantly, don’t you think there isn’t any reason for me to obey someone who is weaker than me?”

The highest-class Demon whose strength even surpassed that of a current Demon Lord.

That was the declaration of war from the legendary Demon who was called the personification of blaze.

“Though meeting Elise would be the last entertainment for me. Until then, don’t you think it will be troublesome if I don’t crush you two and Fear till then? All of you also want to defeat me in order to protect the human’s town, right? So why don’t we get started now.”

“Ren, step aside!”

Kyelse jumped the same time as she shouted.

On the other hand the Demon General of Blaze jumped to the rear towards the slope of the mountain while she made phantoms of herself.

The phantoms of the Demon General. All of the phantoms moved at the same time and spoke.

“This is so saddening.”

“For that invincible and unequalled Dragon.”

“Maybe it was due to that seal.”

“You don’t even have a trace left from back then.”

The crimson detonation——the scattered current of thermal expansion created by the spells of the four phantoms turned into shockwaves that burned the huge rocks and demolished them.

“Just be quiet.”

Kyelse’s power of language.

The scattered blast swiftly turned into pleasant spring breeze.

It must had been a spell to intervene with the energies and fluids within wide-range. But it was in a level where a human like Ren possibly couldn’t understand the constitution of the spell even though he saw it up-close.

“Split.”

Kyelse’s raised feet stepped on the ground. That instant, a shock ran through the Great Volcano of Galia like a rumble caused by a huge Dragon that had landed on the mountain.

The lifted pebbles and hundreds and thousands of small rocks headed towards the Five Great Disaster.

Every one of the rocks had the power and velocity of an arrow or even bullets. Even getting hit by one of them would cause fatal damage. But——

“This isn’t like you. A cunning fighting-style like that isn’t something a Dragon would do.”

They perished before touching the Five Great Disasters.

Miasma——a garment of curses which high-level Demons has around them. Metal objects would turn into rusts. And mere objects such as pebbles would be disassembled in instant.

“You realise it, don’t you? In your current state you can’t——”

“That’s enough talk.”

The Princess of Dragons approached right in front of the Demon General. The many pebbles from before was for deceptive means. A trap used to deceive the eyes of the real Achendia and her four phantoms at the same time.

“It’s so obvious. And sadly, in your current state you won’t overcome my miasma——”

“Fall to the depth of the realm of the dead.”

……Shook.

The air shook. The punch created by Kyelse pierced through Achendia’s activated miasma and nailed her in the stomach.

“Who do you think I am?”

“!? ……k-ka……!?”

The Five Great Disaster held her enormous breast and couldn’t hide her pain.

Barrier breaker. Body destroyer. And the spell intervener. The punch which has those three different high-level spells reached the Demon General of Blaze.

“……Splendid. To be expected from the legendary Dragon Princess Kyelse. I guess that was roughly between thirty to forty percent of the strength of your prime. And that was while being in a human’s appearance. '''Won’t you return to that beautiful Dragon?'''”

“That isn’t your concern.”

Kyelse approached her simply.

Seeing the silver haired girl doing that, the crimson haired Demon simply put on a cold smile and——

“I see. So you can’t transform back, can you?”

“…………”

“That’s too bad. If you could, then you would have been able to fight me with even the half of your strength.”

“What?”

“The cause of your lost would be that there hasn’t been much days since you woke up.”

The real Achendia. And the four phantoms.

The purple-coloured spell-circle which appeared below the feet of the five bodies of the legendary Demon. Strange barrier made up of many complex spell-circles, symbols, and pentagram.

“Anti-Dragon element barrier!?”

“You should have realised by the time I summoned four phantoms. I pity you since your senses was still dull due to three-hundred years of being sealed.”

The light made from the barrier wrapped around Kyelse as if it restrained her——

“Kyelse!?”

“Don’t come, R————gu……aaah……!?”

Before Ren could even reach her.

The silver haired girl’s scream echoed where she than felled at the centre of the barrier.

“I already knew you were coming. It’s natural for me to have prepared barriers against you beforehand. I obviously have many anti-Angel barriers set around there against Fear.”

The four phantoms vanished.

The remaining Demon General of Blaze looked down at Kyelse with a bewitching smile.

“What will you do now? Good timing, I was hoping to have a henchman like you.”

“……Like hell……you low rank……”

She said while she had lights from the barrier restrained her to the ground.

She still tried to move despite it. The Dragon Princess bit her teeth hard, got on her four limbs and moved her head up.

“I’m astonished. You can still speak? Hmm, you are dangerous. If I don’t make you powerless completely before Elise and Fear shows up, you might break free from the barrier with some kind of trigger.”

The condensed flames.

She had a spell of intense heat which was burning so much that it made it bright within her palm——

“Anyway, I’ll have myself weaken her moderately.”

“Before that happens, I will have you go down.”

Achendia didn’t realise it.

No. To be precise, she knew Kyelse’s strength that she was too cautious of her. Thus she didn’t pay intention to the human who came behind her.

——The Angel’s feather in Ren’s left hand.

——The same time the divine item glowed, a crimson spirit appeared behind Ren.

“Don’t worry about me {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}, take me down along with her!”

“!? That spirit! Don’t tell me you are trying to intervene with my spell!?”

The fire spell compressed inside Achendia’s palm suddenly swells up in rage. It spiraled around in the empty space where the intense heat of flames surrounded Achendia and Ren.

An instant flash.

“Ren!?”

Kyelse’s scream echoed——

The huge explosion thrusts the sky. Ren and the Demon General of Blaze gets dragged into the blast and thus the both of them fell deep into the abyss of the Great Volcano’s slope.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the second route.

The earthquake that shook the slop of the mountain.

The scattered shockwave consecutively passed through to the starting point of the mountain. Many small stones turned into fallen rocks due to the shock and started to roll down the mountain.

At the centre of that——

There was an Archangel and a high-level Demon who were exchanging punches within close-range within the breath distance.

“Destroy!”

Chorus of loud spirits between the two.

Fear bended her body to dodge the punch of a huge high-level Demon which came down at her. She went within his reach and thrusts her fist up from below.

The punch which could drill through the ground.

The punch which could cut through the sky.

Sounds of great destruction which continued to echo. The punch from the Demon created a large crater on the ground and the punch from Fear which hit the air creaked the atmosphere. The two punches created a tornado-like blast.

“You are pretty good. It’s been a while since I had a fight which made my heart race so much.”

The Archangel who had a red face due to excitement and her skirt was gently breezed by the air.

“I shall hear your name.”

“That would be an honour. Archangel Fear, the biggest battle maniac of Heaven who directly served under the Goddess Resflaze.”

The Demon who was wrapped in black and gold armour.

His actual skin turned into a powerful armour like that of an exoskeleton of an insect.

“One of the Three Followers of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia-sama. The Veldred of the “Armament”.”

“That was a well-trained martial arts. The name of your title don’t come from armed equipment but your “martial arts” where it acts as an “equipment” itself. I shall remember that name. ……However.”

The Archangel jumped as if she was dancing.

“It’s regretting but I don’t have the time to be dancing with you.”

“——That was my intention.”

The high-level Demon didn’t even try to dodge Fear’s punch. He crossed his arms. He used the back of his palm which was also the part of his body to take her attack directly.

“The Archangel who is the number two of Heaven. Even though you have weakened, I am still no match for you.”

“Oh my? You know when to give up.”

“Wrong. For that reason I need to buy time and wait for Achendia-sama to arrive.”

“……Oh, that’s what you meant.”

She glared at the Demon who jumped to the rear.

This henchman of Achendia was a martial artist but more than that, he was her royal retainer. The plan where they would concentrate in wasting their strength at their spot so Achendia could later defeat their enemy one after another afterwards.

''…..What shall I do now?''

''……We wanted to avoid fighting Achendia directly in our current state.''

Elise, Kyelse, and herself. If two of them among the three joined forces then they wouldn’t lose against a Demon General. Instead, if they were alone, then Achendia would be an opponent who would be extremely difficult to handle.

“Looks like we miscalculated.”

If the four of them including Ren had headed towards the Five Great Disaster together, then such situation wouldn’t have occurred.

But in order to rescue the humans that were defeated by the Demons on their way, they needed to go through the different routes. That was the biggest lost.

“It would be a time attack indeed. Would I join my comrades after defeating you who is concentrated on defending, or would Achendia defeat my comrades first.”

“That’s exactly it. Come. The strongest Archangel in Heaven.”

“No need for you to tell me.”

She crunched her fist very hard.

The blonde Angel jumped ahead while she raised her fist which was had the strongest hardness in the world and was only equaled by the fangs of the Heavenly Silver Dragon.

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, near the crater of the first route.

Elise who was standing very close to origin of the crater which was boiling out the magma.

The one who was opposing her was——

“Let me think, I think you were Nesica of the “Reflection”. The follower of Achendia.”

“It’s an great honour to have the former Demon Lord-sama remember my name.”

The blonde Demon who held the side of her long skirt and bowed at Elise.

She also had an appearance of a human girl. But what was clearly different was her long ears which was like that of a rabbit and a tail which was covered by fur like that of a fox.

“I think you specialised in reflecting spells? Geez, Achendia sure did pit me with the troublesome one.”

It would have been different if she was pitted against an all-rounder type like Kyelse. But Elise mainly specialised in spells. Just how troublesome an opponent who could reflect spells would be.

“I’m looking forward to it. Just how much my ability would work against the former Demon Lord-sama.”

“……Sure. But bye-bye.”

Elise who clicked her fingers. As if it responded to her click, powerful spell-circle appeared and surrounded the blonde Demon.

“You won’t be able to “reflect” binding barrier, right?”

“——Wrong.”

The smile of a high-level Demon. At the same time, loop of light which was about to restrain Nesica perished.

The barrier itself gets teleported to Elise.

“Wah, I didn’t hear that you could even reflect barrier-type spells!?”

Elise slipped through the loop.

“It would have been different if it was Elise-sama when you were an active Demon Lord. But if it’s a spell activated by you in your current body, then there isn’t any spell from you I can’t reflect it.”

“……Hmm, this really is getting troublesome. I don’t even have the time to spare.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she scratched her head. She lifted her eyes which was burning with curiosity and glared at her opponent with eyes which could be taken as fearless eyes.

“What should I do now?”

“Oh my. You still have that much confidence despite having that spell from earlier reflected? Do you have a final trick up your sleeve?”

“Rather than a final trick, it’s more of a……but this is, no, it can’t be helped. I don’t have any more time to waste anyway.”

The dark-skinned girl who shrugged her shoulder in an exaggerated manner.

The eyes of the girl who was known as the former Demon Lord becomes filled with ominous and cold light which made Nesica who was standing against her feel the chills.

“I really wanted to save this for Achendia.”

“Eh?”

“————————I shall teach you fear which would even make Demons shiver in fear.”

The wind of spell powers suddenly stopped.

The area which had activated spells started to compress and what breezed instead was black wind.

The jet-black miasma which was even colder and chaotic than the black of night. Such wind swirled around Elise’s body as if it was enveloping her. Even the atmosphere around Nesica was tainted in black and continued to spread.

At the centre of that miasma——

One dark-skinned Demon showed up.

“Eh? ……Eh…………ah, n-no…………it can’t be…………”

Nesica’s expression froze in fear. No Demon wouldn’t know her. In the past she used her powerful and unrivalled black miasma to shroud the Underworld with it. The strongest Demon who even had the Five Great Disasters serve under her——

“It’s been awhile since I returned to this appearance.”

The one who said that was a tall dark-skinned Demon.

Her clothing changed to ominous colour and shape due to receiving her miasma. Her tied-up hair was now untied and was continuing to blow due to the powerful and black miasma.

She changed from her small girl’s appearance to an appearance of a woman with fascinating body——

“D……Demon Imperial Princess……Eliselis Di Mariablaze-sama……”

“Indeed.”

The former Demon Lord looked down to Nesica who was standing in front of her with eyes which didn’t have the slightest mercy in them.

“You should be honoured. After all, you would be the first Demon to see me with this appearance ever since I reincarnated ten years ago. I haven’t even told Kyelse and Fear about it.”

The forbidden spell of the rebirth of the Demon Lord.

She spent ten years to create it after she reincarnated as a small girl. A secret spell which was solely created by Elise. Since it required to consume great amount of spell powers, there was a restriction of being able to use it for only very short time——

“I-It can’t be……!? I-I didn’t hear that you could......r-return to your previous form……”

“Fool. Did you really think I would head towards Achendia without any tricks?”

“Ugh……gu, fine……bring it!”

Even though she had to fight the motion of fear which had bind her whole body, Nesica looked up towards the former Demon Lord.

“What’s this?”

“Since your original body is that of that small girl, you would require great amount of spell powers to maintain that body! And several mintues at most. Then if I could endure it for several mintues here, your spell power would reach the limit first. There’s no change in Achendia-sama’s victory!”

“Haha, to be expected from Achendia’s retainer. You are smarter than I thought.”

The Demon Imperial Princess who answered with a smile on her face.

“But let me give you a correction. The reason why I didn’t want to waste time wasn’t because I needed to consume enormous amount of spell power to maintain this form.”

“Eh?”

“I am no longer a Demon Lord. I am merely a single Demon who left that position and lost all of my henchmen. But even for someone like me, I still have irreplaceable comrades. They aren’t my henchmen like all of you once were. But comrades who is equal to me. I just want to make it in time for that danger. That’s simply it.”

Those words.

The high-level blonde Demon made an expression as if she couldn’t believe her ears.

“……You have changed. Former Demon Lord-sama.”

“You’re right. I may have. But it doesn’t feel bad. A journey with equal comrades that is.”

She had overwhelming dignity and miasma envelop her body. The charming Demon Imperial Princess walked slowly towards the Demon in front of her.

“And that’s how much I also want to watch over him. The possibility of Ren who is known as the fake Brave Hero.”

===3===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the midpoint.

At the midpoint of the mountain where there wasn’t even the slightest sight of parties and the Demons that would counter them——

“……! ……Ku……looks like…...I overdid it.”

Ren used his sword to support his body and stood himself while his whole body had received bruises and cuts.

“Hmm. Ancient summoning. I wonder how many hundreds of years since it has been since I last met a human who can command a spirit. You sure come up with an interesting tactic where you commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene my flames and made it explode.”

The crimson Demon whose tone became lively in joy.

Even though she had been blasted in the same explosion as Ren, she didn’t receive anything which you would describe it as wounds.

“You, a human who resemble Elline. I think Kyelse called you Ren earlier.”

“——Yeah.”

“So, what was your intention? It seemed like you protected Kyelse but what are you planning to do?”

“I was desperate. To be honest, I didn’t have the leisure to think anything through.”

Ren shook his head.

Seeing Kyelse put in danger right in front of him, the action he suddenly took without even thinking and finding the reason to do so was anyway to have the Demon General of Blaze get away from there at all cost.

“But by having the discussion with the two of us, I now have two things I wanted to say to you.”

“What would those be?”

“First. Why did you betray Elise? I don’t care about the current Demon Lord. But Elise……is a good girl. The relation between you and Elise may have been that of a master and her retainer, but still, you two were comrades right? I don’t want to see the two of you fight each other and hurt each other.”

“That sure is an interesting impression you have there, don’t you think?”

“It isn’t interesting since it’s something I experienced myself which was the most painful experience I had.”

He continued to be called the fake Brave Hero during the three years at Holy Fiora Journey Academy.

No one took him seriously. Since he didn’t have friends who would practice swords with him, he continued to swing his swords alone outside while using the empty air as his sparring partner.

''——It’s because I wanted someone to acknowledge me one day.''

''——So I intend to understand very well of what it means to have comrades more than anyone.''

“If I were you……I would never betray such precious comrades no matter what the reason would be. Why can’t you get along with her? It doesn’t matter if Elise is or isn’t a Demon Lord right now. Didn’t she fight till her body was battered three-hundred years ago!?”

Elise who had lost her body in the battle from three-hundred years ago.

She lost her position as a Demon Lord and reincarnating into a younger but weaker body surely wasn’t something she wanted either. However——

“Wasn’t Elise, the Demon Lord, the one who fought alongside all of you who were her trusted retainers!? So don’t just betray her easily like that!”

“…………”

The crimson Demon didn’t answer.

“……So, what was the second thing you wanted to say?”

“I certainly am no Elline. Yeah, I’m none other than the fake Brave Hero. I don’t mind to be called that in the academy, the town of the blazing cliff, and even from a Demon as yourself. ——But!”

Ren gripped his sword harder.

There was one promise he made which passed his mind.

''“But don’t forget the strong spirit you showed when you protected me and challenged the Wyvern. That is the only requirement I ask from you to form a party with me.”''

“There is something I also can’t give up on. I won’t break the promise I made with Kyelse no matter what!”

“Are you going to buy time so you can call the other three here?”

“No way. I don’t have time to do that. Your henchmen is doing whatever they like and are rampaging in the town located below this mountain.”

The story of the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero.

This was truly the beginning of it.

“I will! Now, right here! I will end this by defeating you!”

“Dummy. If it was Elline from the past it would have been different, but you are merely a human. Know the power difference between us.”

The Demon General of Blaze raised her right hand.

Roar!

Cracks were created on the ground where a giant wall of flames blew up so high that you had to look up. Not only did the flames had high temperature which was enough to melt the rocks it touched, but it was also a wide-range spell which covered your whole sight in flames.

“This should be the end for it.”

Torrent of flames which was heading at Ren.

Those flames————was cut in half by the swing of the boy’s sword.

“You stopped my flames for the second time!? ……I see that the spirit is quite fond of you.”

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} of fire which was resting on Ren’s right shoulder.

It responded to the sword Ren had swung and intervene with the flames the sword had been swung towards.

“!”

The Five Great Disaster got stirred. Ren used that instant to jump.

The mass of flames which was created by Achendia fell down towards Ren after it spun in mid-air. Ren continued to dodge every one of them. No, there should have been flames which had hit him. But even those flames disappeared, leaving just white smokes as if it had been washed away by water.

——The Archangel’s feather and the former Demon Lord’s jewel.

As well was it a jewel to activate ancient summoning, it could also be used as a defence-barrier which had resistance to varieties of spells. It was the effect of those supports.

“Over there!”

Ren closed the distance with the Demon General who had jumped away and swung his sword slanted from lower angle.

The tip of the sword grazed her.

But the whole body of the crimson Demon disappeared that instant like a mist.

“Mirage!?”

“Correct~. I distorted the layers present in the air with the heat of my flames in order to manipulate the refractive index of light. Since it was a genuine physical phenomenon, I can even confuse those who sensors the spell-power of their opponent……well, you didn’t seem like such skillful person so I was surprised by you so I had to take that measure.”

The charming Demon was smiling from far away.

“Ancient summoning and spirit summoning. Did you train at the Holy-land of Canaan?”

“Of course not.”

The heat of flames which lurked in the surrounding.

Ren wiped away his sweats which was falling down like waterfall and then shook his head.

''……This is bad.''

''……I wanted to settle this with that attack just now.''

She was a Demon whom even the current Demon Lord would be frighten with. Ren himself was fully aware just how much power gap there were between the two of them. For that reason he wanted to settle this right away. He wanted to settle it before he revealed the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} as well as the divine tools he was given from Fear and Elise.

“That was unfortunate. Your expression tells me that you wanted to use it while I had my guard down, you know?”

She spoke as if it was an obvious act.

But she didn’t have the slightest expression of looking down at him which she had before.

“You are the same as Kyelse. It was a bit too early for you to fight me.”

The earth which the crimson Demon was standing on started to give red glow slowly.

The stones around her started to melt and fuse. As if it started following after it, the earth around her, the giant rock which was present, and all kinds of objects started to turn red and melt——

“The lava flow!?”

“The temperature is more than 1000 degrees. I guess it would be too hot for a human to bath in.”

That instant, the lava flow which was glowing brilliantly spouted from the ground.

From Achendia who was standing normally in the centre of it, the lava flow came down at Ren who was standing below her eyes where the lava flow came rushing at him powerfully like an avalanche while it devoured everything in its way.

“By the way, flames are the only factor the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} can intervene with. Lava which is made from rocks that were melted by heat cannot be intervened nor cannot be guarded it. What will you do now?”

“So it’s a counter measure against {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}……!”

Ren bit his teeth hard and looked around him.

The bumps of the mountains created from natural cause which was made from the earth and the sand. If the lava was coming from the higher altitude, then evacuating to a higher place would allow Ren to escape from this situation……or could he?

“Dammit, come {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}!”

Ren jumped while he had the spirit obey him.

The lava flow which was coming at him as it blew out flames. It approached so close to him that he could feel the heat from it burn his skin——

“How unfortunate. Maybe you won’t make it?”

Achendia’s words of pity.

At the same time, Ren gripped tightly of the amber he had received from Elise.

“I hope this will work……!”

Ancient summoning to teleport physical objects. The more complicated the spell was, the more powerful the activation substance would be and hence the easier it would be to break the limitation of the distance and quality of the object you would have teleported.

——A huge rock.

A huge rock which Ren had seen far ahead gets summoned between him and the lava flow.

“Are you planning to stop the lava? Dummy, a simple rock like that would get melted as a whole.”

“That’s not what I’m planning to do.”

Ren simply said that and jumped towards the huge rock right in front of him.

''……It’s obvious that I would only be able to summon that for an instant with my current skill.''

''……Please make it!''

The huge rock was to mold a space for his footing.

Several seconds remained till the summoned rock would disappear. He stepped on the rock within those seconds and jumped once again from the top of the rock. He jumped over the lava flow that was coming at him.

“Good decision. But my lava doesn’t just flow————now explode.”

Rumbling.

Fragments of lava got shot out to the front. It came flying towards Ren in the same velocity as that of a bullet.

“————”

Countless of flying pebbles which was burning in intense heat lands on Ren. The boy fell without crying out and had lots of blood spurt from his body............wasn’t what happened since he disappeared from the sight instantly.

“Is that my mirage!?”

“That was your trick. You distorted the air with the heat of your flames in order to create a camouflage by bending the light!”

The boy who rushed right in front of Achendia swung down his sword at her.

——Emission of heatwaves by the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}}.

Those flames distorted the air around Ren and created an artificial phantom on the spot.

The flash of the sword.

It was certainly the moment when the strike of Ren’s sword had captured the Demon General of Blaze.

“……'''Ren-chan.'''”

“!?”

Something cold passed through Ren’s back with that one word said by the Demon. Ren took a distance without thinking twice.

——The tip of the sword which had rusted.

Right before the tip of the sword touched Achendia’s body, the blade made by steel rusted in instance by the high intense heat of miasma which was enveloping and protecting her.

''……I was prepared ever since Kyelse told me about it.''

''……So this is the threat of the miasma which is worn by highest-level Demons.''

The protection given to him by the divine tools which he had received from Fear and Elise. He had a faint hope of having his sword protected from her miasma. But the miasma of the Five Great Demon was overwhelmingly ominous.

“Now I get it.”

On the other hand, Achendia spoke as if she was talking to herself.

“I’m shocked. It was thanks to the power of the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} that you were able to copy my move by seeing it with your own eyes and it was thanks to Fear’s divine tool you were able to summon it. But the judgement you made to actually put that in practice in the very last minute was no doubt your power. …..If that sword was even a bit of a famed sword, I may have received some wound by you.”

Her dress which had a small cut.

The Demon who stroke the small cut made by the sword on her breast. By that time not only wasn’t there a scratch on her crimson dress, but even the slightest crease was repaired.

“If there was one thing I fear about humans, then that wouldn’t be the population of the human species but their growth speed. Rather than being described as learning, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it an evolution. You know, with that in mind, Ren-chan? There’s one thing I’m sure of.”

“……What is it?”

“'''In a near future you will become a threat to me. So I will kill you here.'''”

The atmosphere suddenly changed.

The glare of the Demon General of Blaze Achendia. Even inside the intense heat of the place due to the heat from the lava, she gave an intense cold feeling which was so cold as if you were thrown into current of an ocean. ——No, this was a simple pressure.

“The forbidden chapter of blaze, the “Crimson World”.”

The sky of the night gets tainted in crimson colour which was close to that of a blood.

''……A barrier? No, it’s Achendia’s miasma.''

''……Has this whole mountain got covered by miasma of Achendia’s flames!?''

“I, the Demon General of Blaze.”

The crimson Demon raised her hand.

“The light, the heat, and the flames are within my control as close as it can eternally be.”

The red light which started pouring down.

Those came pouring from the crimson sky of night. There were countless number of lights which poured like intense rain.

The single drop of light—— the moment it touched the tip of his elbow, the fibre was burned away in instant without even flames actually appear and burn it.

“Agh!?”

“The hell fire which would burn away this world. I shall show you what a real spells are.”

The Demon General of Blaze just stood there calmly while she had red lights pour on her.

The rains of light where there were thousands of them.

When the raindrop touched the ground it melted away the stones and when it touched the grove of the trees it turned the whole trees into charcoals. Even though it was pouring like rains it changed its course while it was dropping. There were rains where it dropped vertically even though it was pouring in spirals.

——The spell where the energy of flames all turned into light and heat.

——They returned into flames only when it touched the target till it burns away the target.

“Ku……a……!”

''……It isn’t a spell a human can control.''

''……This is the highest-level Demon. She is indeed a true monster.''

The {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with Achendia’s flames and weakened the flames that were attacking Ren.

On top of that the Archangel’s feather and the Demon Lord’s jewel which created a powerful and unrivalled protection-barrier to weaken the power of flames even more played a role. But even still, the single drop of light had high intense heat.

Ren didn’t even have the will to imagine what would have happened to him if he wasn’t protected by both the spirit and the divine tools.

“Even still, it’s not over yet!”

Ren swung down his sword even though he was feeling intense pain on his shoulder.

The pouring rains of light with high intense heat. The single drop which could be called a raindrop or even a flash was accurately cut by the sword swung by the boy.

“————”

The boy didn’t stop.

While he was inside the pouring flashes, he concentrated only on the raindrops pouring on him so he could mow them down with the tip of his rusted sword. The blade itself would melt if Ren blocked them with the tip of his sword so the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened with the course of those flames and distorted them.

“Magnificent.”

The praise from the crimson Demon which came from the bottom of her heart.

“To only cut the lights pouring on you. Or was that a coincidence?”

“No, I simply had done this training before.”

''“There’s nothing wrong with your training and your hard work.”''

''“Seize the drop of water and a fraction of fire, and strike it down with a single slash instantly.”''

''……I really need to thank Kyelse.''

He who was an outsider at the academy. He couldn’t find classmates who would train with him so his training partner had always been the empty air.

''——I have been swinging my sword against the pouring raindrops by following its course when it was raining.''

Kyelse was the only one who acknowledged his hard work. Instead she even pushed him to strive even further. That experience now had bear fruit.

“But it was still too early for you to fight me.”

“!?”

“Burst.”

Lights covered his sight.

The next moment the detonations which shook the air attacked Ren.

“——Gah!?”

The rain of lights which poured on him. Those thousands of raindrops, which acted like a very small bombs, all exploded at once and the blast spread everywhere.

The sword fell from Ren’s hand and made a sound when it had hit the ground.

''......This is bad. For an instant, I really lost my consciousness with that impact.''

Ren had his knee on the ground by the time he realised it.

“I guess this was your limit after all. Even though you have the appearance of Elline, you are very far from being him.”

The broken sword.

The blade broke due to the impact of the blast. The Demon General of Blaze looked down at the bladeless sword.

“Well, you sure did put up a fight for a human. You did so well that I don’t mind making you my henchmen together with Kyelse. A human who can use ancient summoning is rare after all.”

“……Don’t……mess……with me.”

Ren wiped his cheek which was covered in his blood and sweat.

He gripped tightly of the bladeless sword and glared at Achendia.

“I……can still……stand as you can see.”

“I can’t understand it.”

She had Ren in front of her who had replied to her as such while he breathed heavily.

It was none other than the Demon General of Blaze who tilted her head with eyes filled with wonder.

“Your sword broke and your body is battered. You can’t even completely control the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which is your trump card. What can you possibly do in this situation? Or are you planning to call out your comrades?”

“Nope.”

“Eh?”

“There’s only one thing I’m thinking of and that is the way to defeat you.”

Ren took a step, despite the fact that he couldn’t keep his body balance, and showed a fearless smile.

“I……want to become the member of this party. I want to become the actual comrade of those three.”

''“When we are fighting, just put your life as the priority.”''

''The Dragon Princess Kyelse, the Archangel Fear, and the former Demon Lord Elise.''

''And myself who was merely allowed to “join” them. But that isn’t it. There won’t be any meaning if it stayed like this. The party I am aiming for is——''

“I just……want those three to really acknowledge me as their comrade. I want to continue journeying the world with them. That’s why I can’t lose at a place like this!”

His body which was covered in cuts and burns due to the impact of the blasts.

Even so, the boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero declared it while he had the legendary Demon standing in his way.

“Bring it, Demon General of Blaze. This will be the last battle!”

<center>==========</center>

The Great Volcano of Galia, the summit of the third route——

The faint purple light which came from the top of the mountain was a strange barrier made from variety of different spell-circles, symbols, and the pentagrams.

The anti-Dragon element barrier. The pillar of lights would intervene the more the powerful the Dragon was and would cancel their power.

“Gu……to use……such trick……”

Kyelse bit her teeth hard while she had the pillar of lights restrained her to the ground.

A mere barrier such as this would have been easily destroyed by her in instant without needing to transform back into a Dragon if this was three-hundred years ago.

“……Ren……”

She said that name while she was in pain.

Ren commanded the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} to intervene with Achendia’s spell in order to protect Kyelse——. He fell down to the mountain’s slope along with Achendia from the blast. She possibly couldn’t know how far they had fell but the biggest problem was that too much time had passed since then.

''——She isn’t someone who you could beat alone.''

''——Even Ren should know that.''

“Don’t play with me humans! Why must all of you leave me and hasten your death!”

The three-hundred years of imprisonment being sealed.

She had the Sword Emperor Elline who had reached out to her to die before her——

And if she lost Ren here who she had reached out her hand to——

“I won’t allow it……I certainly don’t want that to happen! I won’t allow it!”

The silver haired girl.

No, the Dragon who was in the form of a human howled.

“Return and reincarnate! I am the Princess of the Dragons. I shall abandon my body of a human once again!”

The magnificent howl. The silver haired girl’s body vibrated for an instant. Then a bright silver-white glow was emitted from her body. It shined the summit of the Great Volcano widely. And then——

“Disappear. Beautifully, and violently.”

The absolute power of words.

It shredded the purple pillar of lights which then disappeared into the empty sky.

The barrier which perished without a trace.

In the centre of it was the silver haired girl who crouched once again and was breathing heavily.

“……Sigh……a……ah…………I was able to……return for an……instant……?”

Large number of sweats passed down her cheek and dropped from her chin.

But that only happened for a short time as Kyelse stood up and climbed down the mountain right away.

“Wait for me, Ren……!”

She wouldn’t get lost.

The girl climbed down the mountain path as if she was being guided.

===4===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

At the steady slope of the mountain where there wasn’t any sight of either the parties or the henchmen of Achendia that were also Demons like her.

“The last battle? You should know your place.”

Crimson miasma appeared from the whole body of the Demon General of Blaze.

The magnificent and absolute power which dyed the night sky of the Great Volcano with its colour. What fell from the sky which was dyed in crimson was numerous flashes which was like a meteor shower.

The small light which had a size of raindrop.

Each drop of light fused with the stones by simply being in contact with it and the turned ground into lava. Simply using the term being burnt by it won’t be enough to describe the seriousness of the situation if a person was hit by it. Even so——

“I’m telling you that I won’t give up!”

Ren gripped his broken sword which the blade was broken from the middle and sprinted through the battlefield which had red lights pour from above. Right behind him was the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} which was obeying him as it floated above the air.

“Hah!”

He swung his sword against the flash of light which came from high above his head. Even though the tip of his sword was missing, the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} intervened Achendia’s spell while it responded to Ren’s movement. It moved away the flashes which was pouring above Ren.

''…...Elise and Fear-senpai.''

''……And Kyelse. I need to thank all of them.''

The former Demon Lord’s jewel and the Archangel’s feather. Ren wouldn’t have been able to summon the {{Furigana|ancestral spirit of fire|SALAMANDER}} without these two divine tools and he also wouldn’t have been able to endure Achendia’s attack either.

And Kyelse.

In reality the attack which Kyelse gave to Achendia in the beginning had left a critical damage to Achendia even till now.

Ren noticed that since Achendia had been putting her hand over her stomach and had been using resurrection spell on herself.

''……This would be the only time for me to damage her.''

''……But what should I do? How would I be able to win against this enemy who is too powerful?''

The only weapon he had with him was his broken sword.

The decisive method to attack Achendia which would be the most crucial point still hadn’t been found——

That moment.

What passed through Ren’s mind was a “certain thing” Kyelse had said to him.

''............There is a way.''

'''''……There’s still one way left.'''''

There was still one possibility left to defeat Achendia even under this hopeless situation.

“————”

Ren gripped his bladeless sword and sprinted as he gazed at the Demon General of Blaze.

However.

“I’m sorry. It doesn’t necessary mean that the attacks would only come from the sky.”

“……G-Guh!?”

The flash of intense high heat which burnt Ren’s back from right behind him. The lights which came from the sky moved in a complex angle and therefore Ren couldn’t notice the attack coming from behind him as that was his blind spot.

“The spirits are indeed powerful, but they won’t take any action if the summoner doesn’t give them orders. So it means the spirit can only block the lights you are personally aware of.”

“No……since that’s good enough for me!”

Ren still didn’t stop running even though his body was covered in cuts and burns.

“What’s this? That face. You still haven’t given up? But it all ends here. I had more fun than I expected but I still have three individual I need to be more cautious about.”

The Five Great Disaster raised her hand high.

“The red star, fall.”

Meteor. The whole crimson miasma which had dyed the sky red turned into a burning star and came falling in a direction to crush Ren.

“You were entertaining for a human.”

Was the smile the Demon General of Blaze gave her pity or her praise to him?

Rumble!

The red scorching burning star was falling towards the boy. A huge crater was formed on the earth and there were a powerful red molten lave bursting up high from the crater.

——But Ren wasn’t located below the falling burning star.

“Falling for the same trap. That isn’t like you.”

The atmosphere distorted and the appearance of a boy which suddenly appeared.

Ren who held his sword had already approached close to Achendia.

“……It’s the mirage from before!?”

“There’s only one reason why you lost. I wasn’t even a threat in your eyes. You reserved your strength while fighting me and had only been thinking about the fight against Kyelse, Fear-senpai, and Elise.”

The boy swung his sword.

But the Five Great Disaster didn’t lose her smile even though she saw that.

“And? What will you do with that broken sword? Do you think you can break through my miasma with that sword——”

“No.”

The sword fell to the ground while it made a sound.

“!? You discarded your own sword!?”

“You are hundreds of times stronger than me. Then it’s obvious how I must win against you.”

The golden jewel which he held in his left hand.

The former Demon Lord’s jewel. It was the divine tool to activate the ancient summoning and the effect was to summon physical objects. To summon what you were imagining into the designated location.

“'''I need to borrow the strength of the one stronger than you. That’s simply it.'''”

The activation substance which was glowing. Immediately after that——

What Ren held in his hand was a single sword glowing in transparent blue colour.

''“That’s the sword which was used to take down the Archangel who was acting tough at the Heaven and the Demon Lord who was acting like a boss at the Underworld.”''

——'''Spirit Sword Vierge.'''
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_008.jpg|thumb]]

Achendia opened her eyes wide. There was no way that a Five Great Disaster such as her didn’t know. This sword which was used by the Brave Hero was the one used three-hundred years ago to——

“They say that Elline fought Elise using this sword. If it was a sword which worked against the Demon Lord of back then, then it’s natural for it to work against you who was her henchman.”

''……Please Elline.''

''……This one instant will be enough so please lend me your strength!''

He wished and made a prayer.

The boy who was called the fake Brave Hero swung the sword of the Brave Hero he held in his hand.

And then——

===5===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point.

There wasn’t any sight of Demons, Achendia’s henchmen, nor the parties. Simply the remains of the heatwaves created from the red scorching flames filled the place and the atmosphere was awkwardly quiet.

“Ren! Ren, where are you!? Dammit……Achendia, come out!”

She yelled so loud that she started breathing heavily. Kyelse forgot to wipe her sweat caused by the fatigue of breaking through the barrier and simply kept on running.

''……I can feel the remains of Achendia’s spells. She must be nearby.''

The scars left by the battle between Ren and the Demon General of Blaze.

Kyelse became frustrated as there was scars of great destruction spread in front of her.

She continued to run through the surface of the ground which continued to glow in red even now.

“Kyelse!”

“Fear!? And Elise!?”

The ones who caught up to her from behind was the two other girls that went through the separate routes.

The Archangel and the former Demon Lord.

All of them had close to no wounds. But the expression on each of their faces was filled with tension.

“My apologies. My body was duller than I expected…… You would need to think carefully about staying in a human’s academy for a long period. I had a hard time to remember my battle instincts. And Elise, was it me or did I feel a nostalgic miasma coming from you before?”

“I ended up using an incomplete forbidden technique.”

The dark skinned girl who continued to run with a bit of fatigue on her face.

“I only had half of the power of my prime even though I used that much spell-power. So my battle lasted longer since I tried to reserve my power. By the way Kyelse, where is Ren!?”

“Ren is…………”

He’s fighting because he defended me. Kyelse stopped herself from saying that and continues to run through the roadless volcano mountain. Fear and Elise followed right behind her.

Just how long had she been running while having the wind blow her hair?

What awaited her when she continued to run without a word was——

“Ren!?”

Right after that.

Kyelse, the Archangel, and the Demon Lord witnessed the moment which they would never forget for the rest of their life.

That was——

“It’s my win, Achendia.”

The boy who had swung the shinning Spirit Sword.

The moment where the boy cut through the ominous miasma and defeated the Demon General of Blaze.

“T-That sword!”

“The Spirit Sword Vierge!? Did he summon Elline’s sword!?”

Elise and Fear who screamed in shock.

“…………”

Kyelse had forgotten about the two girls and simply walked silently towards the boy as it became dawn right behind him.

Far behind him was the great crimson Demon who was on her knees in silent without even moving an inch.

“……Ren?”

The faint morning sunlight which appeared from the other side of the horizon.

And the boy who had his back towards the sunlight.

The Demon Lord of Blaze who would be a powerful enemy with absolute strength. She had witnessed the moment when the boy who was called the fake Brave Hero defeat her.

''……Words won’t come out from my mouth.''

''……I……Are you telling me I was……fascinated by Ren right now?''

“Huh? Ah, that’s good. Kyelse, Fear-senpai, Elise, you are all fine.”

The boy turned around slowly.

“……Ren. Achendia, you actually……”

Won against her?

Kyelse was about to say that but she couldn’t speak out as her lips was shivering. She couldn’t even come up with what to say to him so staring at the boy was the best she could do.

“Well, it worked more than I imagined. Make sure you give me a bit of a praise, okay?”

The Brave Hero’s sword which was returning to the triumphal town.

The boy who was known as the fake Brave Hero gave a big smile to Kyelse while he gazed at the sword which was disappearing.

——His body was all covered with wounds and burns.

Kyelse also didn’t know what was in her mind when she saw the boy smiled firmly even though he was in such state.

“…………”

However, Kyelse had place her hand slowly onto her chest.

Her heartbeat which started beating fast without realising it.

——It was the first time she felt like this.

The strongest force which was led by the Sword Emperor Elline. It was impossible to lose in battle three-hundred years ago.

But it was different now.

It was different to the sense of security she had when she watched over Elline’s promised victory with composure.

The weak retaliated desperately against the overwhelmingly strong foe while being covered in wounds. To have your chest filled with heat by seeing such individual attain victory at dawn.

It was a feeling Kyelse had experienced for the first time.
[[Image:Sekai_no_Owari_no_Encore_V1_Non-colour_009.jpg|thumb]]

“Kyelse?”

“………………'''Idiot.'''”

She approached front of the boy while walking dizzily.

And then, Kyelse embraced the wounded boy gently and placed his head on her chest.

“I was worried. Don’t you ever act on your own again.”

“…………”

“This is a promise. Got it?”

The boy nodded silently.

Seeing his response, Kyelse embraced the boy again without saying a word.

===6===

The Great Volcano of Galia, the middle point——

“Oh well, it can’t be helped. I can’t be motivated to obey the current Demon Lord-sama but I just have to return to Underworld for now, right? I was beaten by Ren-chan after all.”

The Demon General of Blaze who scratched the back of her head with an awkward look.

There wasn’t a single wound on her body which was covered with a crimson dress. The wound she received from the sword wield by Ren was a small bruise which had already been healed.

——Even so, the Five Great Disaster declared her defeat on her own.

“So we are going back to the Underworld? So troublesome. Right, Nesica?”

“I sure wanted to enjoy a bit more of earth which I haven’t visited in a while. Right, Mii?”

“Know your place, Nesica, Mii.”

The Three Followers who stood behind Achendia.

All three of them were high-level Demons that stood in the ways of Fear, Elise, and Elmekia Dusk. The wound they received on those battle still remained strongly. And further behind them were dozens of Demons on standby who are also Achendia’s henchmen and were waiting for her orders.

“I guess I’ll be returning then.”

“Achendia.”

The crimson Demon who turned her back.

The one who called out to her was the dark-skinned girl who was known as the former Demon Lord.

“Are you still bothered about three-hundred years ago?”

“……Yes. It’s hard to understand it. The End War from back then. '''Why did you, who was the Demon Lord, sacrificed yourself for me, who was merely your henchman?''' You lost your position as a Demon Lord because of it and ended up reincarnating into such young body. I didn’t want to see it. That weaken state of yours.”

Achendia answered her while she sighed.

“Remember this, okay? I won’t acknowledge anyone but you as the Demon Lord who would rule the Underworld. So go and find the spell to return into your original body. I would rather be dead than to serve that weak Demon Lord.”

“……Yeah yeah. I never thought I would have my former henchman worry about me.”

Elise made a bitter smile while she put on an awkward expression.

The response the crimson Demon gave to the former Demon Lord who acted in such way was a silent smile. That smile wasn’t her fearless smile she had till now but a smile　which was pure and beautiful——

''……Was the real reason why Achendia came to earth was perhaps——''

''……Not to rebel against the current Demon Lord but to send that message to her?''

“Goodbye Ren-chan. Take care of Elise-sama, okay?”

The moment Ren thought such. The Demons including the Five Great Disaster disappeared as if they blended with the morning sunlight.

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