Editing Shinmai Maou no Keiyakusha:Volume 3 Chapter 3 (section)

=== Part 3 ===


—— After the kidnapping of Mio, Basara ordered Nonaka Yuki to remain on standby.

As he was about to enter the enemy base by any means, he wanted her to remain as backup for later.

The people who entered into a master-servant contract were able to know the positions of their partner. Thus, she knew at once when Basara arrived at the enemy base immediately. And because Mio has entered the same magical barrier, she couldn’t find Basara’s location temporarily. Though she went to the exact location when Basara’s presence had disappeared, the enemy base could not be found. Therefore, Yuki continued waiting for Basara’s presence to be felt patiently. And as Basara eliminated the magical barrier using Dimensionless Execution/Banishing Shift, Yuki was able to pinpoint the position of Zolgear’s mansion. Furthermore, a mail was received from Yuki’s mobile phone form Basara at the same time, telling Mio and Maria’s circumstances, and then she slipped into the base according to the orders written by Basara.

The orders that Yuki received from Basara is, to take rescuing Mio as the first priority.

So right now ——Yuki who faced Zest together with Mio, have remembered something over again.

''……it was a good thing that I entered a master-servant contract with Basara.''

For this reason, she had tracked down Basara whereabouts and was able to reach this place. Well, was it because their affinity is great, or she was just too obstinate not to lose to Mio? At the moment the master-servant contract was made, Yuki’s fighting power had boosted to another level.

''…I’m thankful for that.''

She can even match Zest that might be on the level of Special Class A relative to her ability, who should be able to kill her in a blink of an eye.

However, it is still undeniable that they are still at disadvantage. Even though the situation is two-versus-one, they were only a makeshift team. Their combination is questionable, and also, Zest’s ability was equal of the Spirit Lance 【{{furigana|Byakko|White Tiger}}】or even more than that. 

Of course, their condition and situation are different from back then. The partner who was Maria becomes Mio, and there are no more hesitations left of Yuki right now unlike when she fought Takashi. And above all, Mio and Yuki had deepened further their relationships for the master-servant contract with Basara from that time, so their fighting power has been improved.

…Still.

Even that the barrier has been neutralized, the divine protecton of 【Sakuya】is weaker, and she can only materialize its power to half of its capacity than when they had faced 【{{furigana|Byakko|White Tiger}}】.

In this situation, fighting head-to-head with Zest was a reckless feat.

If——supposing that they faced each other if she were still in the Hero Clan, Yuki would choose to withdraw immediately.

And after gathering her comrades and increasing their war potential enough, she would have challenged Zest again.

…However,

She does not belong to the Heroes anymore, but a simple girl called Nonaka Yuki right now. If Basara is still there fighting, then she have no rights to back down. And most of all, if she retreated and if Zolgear who is more powerful than Zest were to join the fray, they would be more outnumbered than before.

Fortunately, Zolgear seemed to be away right now. And even the difference in abilities between Zest and them is great even if the situation is 2:1, there is still a possibility to create an opening.

''…Mio is here.''

Since he wanted the power of Wilbert, the other side cannot do anything to harm Mio. Though it I saddening that she is being taken hostage as an advantage, in order to win in this situation when they are being overpowered by the enemy, glossing over was unnecessary.

Since they don’t know when Zolgear will return, they ended up with the quickest possible solution.

Though it is difficult to do it with an opponent with a large gap in abilities, Mio cannot be injured badly by the other side, but there is also a handicap on her, and that is she cannot escape. If the fighting still continued, it will earn time for Zolgear to return, and that would be a very big disadvantage. However,

“There is no use thinking it thoroughly. Let’s go, Yuki”

Mio said, thinking up the same conclusion as she did. Therefore,

“Yes—— Well then, I’m going first”

She said so, and Nonaka Yuki sped quickly towards Zest. At the same time,

“How foolish…”

Zest expanded several magic formations and—— immediately after, the stone pavement broke with a roaring sound, and an innumerable conically-shaped spears assaulted Yuki. As the sharp tips approach her, Yuki inclined her stance from before, jumped low and accelerated. Avoiding those spear tips from the floor, she leaped further from the side, cutting distance to Zest, and with her spirit sword [Sakuya], took her first hit.

It was a diagonal slash from the shoulder. On the other hand, Zest evaded by jumping to her rear. She jumped in midair to avoid it, and because Yuki eliminated her barrier, she is now defenseless against Mio’s magic. If she remained in that place, and faced them with her nails and barriers, Yuki would intercept her attacks with her sword combos from the opposite side as well, after all it would be harder for Mio to deal with her spell if she stopped. Therefore, Zest choosing to evade to the rear was not a mistake. However —— Yuki is a skill type, an all-around fencer/furigana multisaber who can handle all short distance combat and that is no tale. Zest which flew to the rear,

“———!”

Gasped as she saw it. Yuki’s sword flashes that she evaded, produced blades of air by cutting through it, and forward—— she made a hit. Zest casted a magical barrier at once and prevented it, but Yuki ran ahead and chased her, she swinging out Sakuya and multiple combinations of the air blades blasted one after the other. Trying to bind Zest on the spot,

“———!?”

Yuki suddenly jumped to the left by intuition —— at the same time, her hari at the right side of her temples was brushed, and something invisible passed her.

…What was that just now…!?

Yuki was taken aback. It was probably earth-type magic. In Basara’s message, there was a “maiden”<ref>maiden here was 『処女』(shoujo) which also means virgin</ref> keyword that appeared regarding Zest as the accomplice. In the twelve signs of the Zodiac, 【{{furigana|Virgo|The Virgin}}】 was related to the earth element. Judging by the magic that she released a while ago, this should have a relation with the ability of Zest, no doubt of it. However, 

''… I couldn't see it at all.''

Was it just a stone that flew at a high speed perhaps? If its hardness is boosted with magic, that speed and power would exceed ordinary firearms by far. Disregarding to avoid these things would be impossible.

Stopping her pursuit by jumping aside, her stance broken, she expressed a bitter face,

“Is that all you can do….?”

Zest declared with cold eyes, holding her hands aloft—— and in an instant,

“——— then, let me know what you can do”

Completing her magic spell, Mio wrapped Zest with roaring crimson flames in an instant. And then,

“No time to idle, Yuki!”

Mio who reprimanded her just now began reciting her next magic. Therefore,

“———————————"

Yuki also moved immediately. She’s right. She is an opponent who can be defeated by this degree.

“Please【Sakuya】 —— please give me a little more strength”

While running towards the blazing flame pillar, Yuki called her beloved sword in her hand.

And when she returned 【Sakuya】and enhanced its spiritual power, she unleashed a quick draw of her sword towards Zest surrounded by flames. With a shrill sound, the flames are cut horizontally into two equal parts.

“Get back!”

In response to Mio’s warning, Yuki jumped back from that spot, and a huge lightning balls poured one after the other. With the sounds of electrical discharges, roaring lightning strikes echoed the stone floor.

“——I did it?!”

“——No, it didn’t”

To Mio who momentarily shouted with joy, Yuki exclaimed with a rigid expression. There was no resistance when she cut through the flame. When she looked back at once, Zest was already standing in a distant location, already chanting her spell.

“――――――”

An invisible stone was released all together toward Yuki. She on the other hand gave up on evading and responded by slashing out on the surface.　With a sword attack on the barrier, though Zest’s magic stone had flown away,

“―?!”

To a power more than she imagined, Sakuya which received the attack flew away from Yuki’s hand.

Damn it, I’m too late.

“――This is the end”

Zest declared, unleashing all the magic for the finishing blow.


<center><big>＊＊＊＊＊</big></center>


The moment the magic stone was unleashed, Zest intended to end the battle.

With this, Mio will be the one remaining. Though she can’t kill her even if it was an accident, with their difference in abilities, she may disarm her without the girl getting injured.

For this, she waited for the right moment to strike Yuki with an obsidian bullet.

“――――――”

However, the barriers were deployed ahead of Yuki and kept her from Zest’s magic.

It goes without saying whose act it is. Therefore Zest looked at that place silently.

Though their difference in skills is obvious, Naruse Mio still didn’t lose even a single drop of her fighting spirit.

…Keeping her from getting injured, is more troublesome than I thought…

She knew that the girl had raised her power levels through the reinforcement of the master-servant contract with Basara, and it also seemed that their bonds with each other had strengthened considerably. This growth of her heart gave her fighting power a different intensity. It is like the saying that strong feelings for a person is a power that can make things possible.  

…However,

The stronger the feelings are, the easier the heart becomes shaken. And, Basara, who is the support of the hearts of Mio and Yuki are in their hands now. Therefore,

“… how disappointing, Naruse Mio.”

Zest told to Mio.

“Even if falling into the hands of the enemy, cornered with no way to escape… Still, Toujou Basara whom you all loved dearly is right now, tried not to help you but Maria instead. What kind of master is that? Instead of helping those who treat him of importance, he gave priority to the one that betrayed him.”

“……………………”

To these words, Mio fell silent. This is because what Zest spoke was clearly the truth. There is no use to overreact to an unnecessary provocation. If she were to be shaken from trusting Basara even a little, this slight distrust leads to hesitation, and will become a critical chance in the fight. So,

“… Oh well. Well, the truth is, I don’t feel very well.”

Standing alone, Mio said while looking down.

“But it can’t be helped. Our relationship is just beginning, but I still know what kind of guy Basara is. Maria and I had got close to him and deceived him, but even after that, Basara still forgave us, protected us, and risked his life for us.”

Therefore,

“Let me tell you something. I don’t really mind even if Basara were to abandon me or anything, or putting me off or something. Surely, Maria will be there when that guy woke up. But that guy came not only to rescue me, but also Maria. You’ve taken hostages right? Thus we tend to save them from cowards like you. Therefore, we are try to help that girl right now.”

“A very good explanation… Do you really think you can do it?”

“That’s what I thought. To begin with, Maria‘s eyes are full of suffering, so even if she abandoned us and went somewhere else, I won’t be happy at all. Besides, Basara is trying to save me, too.” And also,

“Hey Yuki… did you came for me on your own will?”

“Don’t kid with me. It cannot be helped, Basara said it.”

To Yuki who refused quickly, Mio smiled in a whim.

“That’s too bad. <ref>she ironically said that (お生憎さまだ)</ref> Our bonds wouldn't be swayed by some weak provocation like this —— Different from you and Zolgear.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

Zest narrowed her eyes all of a sudden.

“A while ago, I saw you talking to Zolgear. I don’t know what particular circumstances you have, but it seemed that that man before seemed to be overly cautious of you…”

While doing so, Mio placed her hand on the crest on her chest with a smile.

“It’s enviable, right?... The relationship between Basara and I”

“...a wonderful self-admiration you have.”

Zest replied with a thin smile, and shot the following words unto Mio—— for certain, those words could cause her to be shaken as it is. 

However… Considering all that, after withnessing your friend Sakaki Chika and Toujou Basara in a lovers’ scene, haven’t you been shaken greatly?

“… That is…!”

Mio’s face flew red with a rage immediately, and it replaced the calm composure that she had a while ago. Zest didn’t miss that chance. She recited the spell she secretly performed, and the floor beneath Mio’s feet was transformed into restraints. If she were to neutralize Mio, Yuki alone would be an easy task for her. Therefore, she tried to do so, however——

A roar shook the whole building in an unexpected timing.

“Wha——"

Together with a surprise, Zest is already convinced. No doubt… that just now was a single blow that Maria hit. She had hit Basara again.

''…Fool, What on earth are you doing…''

Zest grew impatient. 

''I knew I should have called Maria back earlier at all. And since Zolgear wants him, I cannot lose Basara.''

Impatience and hesitation swelled inside Zest in a spur of a moment.

“————should I concern myself in the provocation of this person?”

As she put away her thoughts, Mio was already before her sight.

“if that’s the case ———— then eat this!”

The moment she told so, a torrent of raging lightning ran through Zest’s whole body.