Zero no Tsukaima:Volume9 Chapter9

Chapter Nine: Confrontation with the Mysterious Bird

Saito exited the main tower and immediately went to Louise's room to find her. However, she had not come back. "Oh no, what if I can't find Louise..." That was the only thing on his mind.

He had never seen Louise so sad before.

It was his fault... regardless of the circumstances, it was unforgivable.

He wanted to meet her and apologize.

While he was running, Saito imagined Louise's feelings. She saw the princess she esteemed and... the familiar whom she always thought to be faithful, hugging each other as if they were lovers; how much were her feelings hurt?

Although they were not lovers... Louise had seen him allowing Henrietta to go as far as kissing, what a pain it must've been to her! Even thinking about this, Saito's heart ached.

Leaping out of the room, he immediately ran to the courtyard of the academy at night.

In the midst of the almost pitch-black darkness... Louise's figure could not be seen anywhere.

When he was going towards Vestri Courtyard...

The clouds cleared, and the moonlight revealed a figure; a shadow which was sitting on the bench could be seen.

“Louise!”

He unintentionally shouted and rushed forward, only to find that he was mistaken.

“What? Oh, it's you...”

It was Tabitha. Not even attending the ball on such a night, reading a book on a bench to which no one would come; it was really typical of her.

“Hey, did you see Louise?”

Tabitha did not respond.

Staring fixedly at the book, just like that, her body did not stir an inch.

She didn't hear me? He thought, and repeated himself.

“Do you know where Louise is?”

The face which was illuminated by the moonlight, was completely pale.

At that moment... Saito realized that there was a shadow circling in mid-air with its back against the moon.

“What's that? It's not a bird... and it's got legs?”

With the figure of a human and flapping wings, it appeared to be a strange creature. It was just like the figure of demons he saw in manga and televisions in the former days.

“Gargoyle.”

Briefly, Tabitha said.

“You...!” At that moment when he said that, Tabitha waved her staff.

Buoo! A gush of air expanded towards him, and Saito was blown off his feet.

“What are you...!”

Not even having the time to shout, ice arrows aimed at Saito and flew towards him.

At a place somewhat far from the Academy of Magic, Louise was crying endlessly.

“Cruel... too cruel... why, why!”

Pitch black darkness was around her.

It was as if she was left behind all alone in this world. Yet, right now she was not fearful of the darkness. Rather, Louise felt that part of her heart was the same as well.

“Unforgivable... cruel... absolutely unforgivable...”

Words and tears overflowed together, unstoppable. Her miserable feelings kept reproducing.

She muttered that many, many times, and...

“What's unforgivable?”

In the middle of the darkness, a voice could be heard.

Louise who was in a state of confusion, felt something reverberating inside her heart.

“I was betrayed. That's why, it's unforgivable.”

“By whom were you betrayed?”

“By someone who was dear to me...”

“Well then, you must take revenge.”

“Revenge?”

“It's unforgivable right? If that's the case, you must take revenge. You can do it. User of the great Void.”

At that, Louise came to her senses.

“...Who are you?”

“One of your friends. Since long ago... one who serves you people.”

“Who are you! Come out!”

Louise shouted into the darkness. Then she remembered the previous incident in Albion.

“Myoznitnirn?”

“You got it; but you're still wrong.”

She focused her eyes... and a winged shadow came into sight.

“...Gargoyle?”

As Louise was about to stand up,

“Don't worry. I will not harm you.”

The gargoyle which had appeared from the dark headed towards Louise's feet and crouched down reverentially.

“What... what's your intention! Myoznitnirn! You said you won't harm me! Then come out! Come and face me!”

However, the gargoyle opened its mouth.

“For what happened before, I apologize. But, that was a so-called test. To determine whether you deserve to be our ally or not.”

“Stop lying! You think I would believe those words?”

“Then, ask yourself. In this world, whose words do you believing in?”

Louise was speechless. Just a while ago... wasn't she betrayed by the two she believed in the most?

“My master can show you the way.”

“A lie... that's a lie!”

Louise's voice was becoming increasingly softer.

“The only one who can truly understand you... is a fellow user of Void. We want you to lend us your power.”

“...My power?”

“It's natural for you to be cautious. Yet, excessive caution would turn your eyes away from the truth.”

Whether or not it was magic, the gargoyle's voice was enchanting.

Gradually, Louise's caution disappeared.

Louise, who was confused because of her grief, did not know that she was falling for a trick.

“You, are you really my friend?”

“Of course.”

“My friend? You won't betray me?”

“I will definitely not betray you.”

The gargoyle slowly turned around, and showed Louise it's back.

“Please ride on me. Oh great master of the Void.”

Louise could not resist that voice any more.

She felt the gargoyle's back... and Louise's senses gradually faded. Slowly, as if she was falling asleep, Louise lay down on the gargoyle's back.

Gaa!

Gagaa!

Gagagagagaaa!

A storm of Windy Icicles - one of Tabitha's strongest attacks flew towards him. Saito tumbled sideways to avoid them.

Clearly, it was an attack whose aim was to... kill Saito.

If he had not undergone Agnes' training, he would not have been able to evade them.

“What the heck!? What do you want!?”

Saito yelled in anger. He did not understand the reason behind this attack at all.

“Oi! Tabitha! You, what the hell... wh-!”

The response was magic.

Tabitha scattered Windy Icicles in all directions, surrounding him, and sent them flying.

Bashushushushushuuu!

After the smokescreen of water vapour produced by the countless Windy Icicles cleared up...

Contrary to her expectations, rather than seeing a skewered figure, Saito was standing there with Derflinger unsheathed. The Windy Icicles were absorbed by Derflinger, while the remaining ones were swiped away by Saito with his blade.

“What on earth, what's your reason? Why did you attack me? Explain!”

Tabitha lifted her staff.

“Because of a command.”

“Command? Who commanded you!”

As expected, her reply was magic.

Saito gripped Derflinger tightly and leaped. He planned to shorten their distance in one movement... and knock down the staff Tabitha was holding. But Tabitha reacted to Saito's movements and leaped, passing by him. Her body moved agilely, just like the traditional Wind element which she prided in.

As if she were a clockwork puppet, Tabitha combined her body's skills and magic to dodge the sword Saito brandished.

“!?”

She was jumping up and down, evading the sword, and at the same time,

“Deru Bagaraasu.”

She chanted the spell, and subsequently, used magic to fly past him. Very slowly, as if she was chasing cotton wool.

And then, sometimes, she would utter incantations which would cause attacks like bee stings.

The air was distorted, and it attacked Saito.

“Air Hammer.”

At that instant the sword was already set up, but, taken by surprise, Derflinger could not absorb it.

Receiving the full blow, Saito was hurled into air.

“Damn...”

However, that attack did not carry strong powers.

It seemed that both sides lacked decisive blows. Just to match with Gandálfr's speed she had to put in a lot of effort.

Because she did not have enough time for her chants, she could not use strong incantations. Naturally, the Windy Icicles and Air Hammers were weakened.

Yet, Tabitha was fast.

With a small and light body, her movements were faster than Wardes whom he had fought before this.

“The way this person moves. They are the movements of an assassin.”

Derflinger revealed its feelings.

“Assassin?”

“Yeah. Avoiding direct battles, and when the opponent reveals his weakness, deciding the victor in an instant. That girl's one by one strikes are not very strong. Her moves and speed are extraordinary though.”

“...Why is she doing so well, considering she's only holding a staff?”

“Partner's heart is uncertain, that's why.”

“That's very true! Why am I fighting her...!?”

Saito could not even display half of his usual power.

Unable to understand her reason for attacking, he could not fight Tabitha.

Before he knew it, in his defensive battle, Saito was driven into a corner. No... even if he could utilize Gandálfr's full power, Saito would not be able to fight Tabitha seriously. Even now, he could only draw his sword to try his best to knock off Tabitha's staff. Saito was that kind of person.

The offense and defense strikes continued back and forth...

Saito and Tabitha were confronting each other within a distance of 15 mails.

It was scarcely an interval.

Instantly, Saito retreated slightly beyond the distance which he could plunge forward towards her immediately.

A distance at which Tabitha could avoid if he were to plunge forward towards her...

That was the same for Saito as well. Even if Tabitha uttered any spell... he had the confidence to deal with it from this distance.

“Oi! It's about time you give me a straight answer...”

At that moment,

“Are you having trouble dealing with him?”

As if reverberating in their heads, a voice could be heard from above the sky.

The gargoyle which they had seen before, was carrying something behind it and circling them.

It was a shadow.

In the moonlight, pink hair shone.

“LOUISE!”

Louise's body was seen, carried on the back of a gargoyle, she seem to have fainted.

Saito unconsciously tried to run toward where Louise was... but before he could do that, Tabitha blocked his path.

“You... step aside!”

With eyes that revealed no emotion, Tabitha glared at Saito.

“There is no reason for her to step aside. This child is the Knight of the North Parterre. Our loyal watchdog.”

“Watchdog?”

“Isn't this amusing? Chevalier versus Chevalier. A combination for which my master would be jumping with delight.”

Tabitha bent her body slightly and readied her staff.

Heavy...

The atmosphere appeared to have turned heavy abruptly.

Her magical powers manifested into an aura, which drifted about around Tabitha, like a heat haze. Under the illumination of the moonlight, that aura squirmed about demonically.

Blue.

An aura that embodied Tabitha's power.

Saito gulped.

This girl's magical power was not just for show.

“Oi, Tabitha. Since Louise is at stake, I'll have be serious.”

“...”

“Because you are strong, I can't go easy on you.”

Tabitha started to recite spells.

“Hey, Gandálfr. If you aren't serious, you'll get hurt. Don't you get it? If you continue like this, you can't save your precious master.”

“Step aside Tabitha! Just step aside!”

Ignoring his angry yell... Tabitha continued chanting her spell.

"Laguz Water Is Isa Hagalaz"

At the same time Tabitha rotated her staff to match the chant.

Magical power formed around her body like a serpent and changed into a huge ice javelin.

Guided by the staff... the ice javelin turned.

While turning, it kept on swelling... larger, sharper, and the blue radiance kept increasing.

Derflinger muttered.

“That 'Javelin'... its destructive power is strong. Don't get hit partner, or we'll be done for.”

“Oi, Tabitha! To save Louise I might have to kill you! Do you understand!?”

The gargoyle's shout reverberated from above.

“That is the same for this child as well.”

“Do it! Partner!”

Saito shook his head as if giving up, and jumped.

Simultaneously, Tabitha swung her staff downwards.

With a wave of the staff, the huge Javelin aimed down and shot towards Saito.

The sword and the Javelin intersected each other.

Dissected by the sword, the Javelin broke and shattered into pieces.

But amidst the icy debris, Saito was hit by ice splinters which rained down like broken glass.

“Chi-!” Tabitha growl.

Finding a gap between the ice splinters, Tabitha brandishing her staff to fire off another Javelin.

“The first round was a decoy!”

Derflinger shouted.

Tabitha had completed two javelins at the same time just now.

“Uooooooo...!”

Together with his scream, the runes on Saito's left hand shone.

In a split second, he rushed over and knocked Tabitha down.

Straddling her small body with his knees, Saito pointed his sword at her.

But Tabitha would not release her staff.

“Throw away your staff!”

Saito shouted, as he readied his sword fiercely over her head.

Tabitha stared at Saito motionlessly.

Those eyes were... completely cold. It was unknown what kind of emotion laid hidden behind them.

The only thing they expressed was, "I will defeat the enemy".

The enemy that was in front of her.

That's what those eyes seem to say.

Magical mist gathered around Tabitha's staff, the ice spell 'Javelin' was formed. Just by lowering her staff... the spear would be unleashed, and would pierce through Saito's body.

Without the slightest hesitation, Tabitha waved her staff.

“Stop!!”

Saito yelled, and swung his sword downward.

The ice spear was activated, and Bang!, both Saito and Tabitha was enveloped by a mist of water vapour.

Tabitha gazed at Saito, dumbfounded.

Saito's sword was stabbed into the ground beside Tabitha's face.

Tabitha's 'Javelin' which shone with a pale light... pierced Saito's side. Red blood flowed from Saito's wound... and dripped onto Tabitha's cheeks.

The snow white cheeks were stained in red.

“...Why?”

Without moving an inch, Tabitha asked Saito.

Saito ought to have impaled me by now.

Yet, Saito pointed his sword away.

“Dunno... I pointed it away unconsciously. How shameful... and I have to protect Louise... why did I spare the enemy...? I...”

Saito murmured with an anguished-looking face.

“But... you had saved us so many times, I suppose I can't kill you...”

“...”

“I wanted... to protect the people I most hold dear in life... even so, how could I sacrifice such another...?”

Tabitha's eyes opened big.

After that... from the inside of the transparent, blue eyes, tears welled up, overflowed from the side of her eyes... and trailed down her cheeks.

“What's the matter? What are you crying for? Your task hasn't finished yet. Deliver the finishing blow quickly!” The gargoyle demanded.

Tabitha sprang up, and with "Wind Break," blew the falling Saito off.

“Ouch!”

Tumbled over, Saito tried to stand up... but the side of his stomach hurt, and his body went numb- he could not move.

Tabitha waved her wand for a few times.

“Gou!” She shouted, and a whirlwind suddenly revolved around Tabitha, enveloping her.

In the midst of that, snow fragments glistened, sparkling.

Will I be killed by this beautiful snow...? In a daze, Saito thought...

Tabitha did not aim her staff at Saito, but at the gargoyle, and fired.

Mixed with snowflakes, the raging wind attacked the gargoyle with sheer force, cutting off its wings and knocking it to the ground. Louise, who was on the gargoyle, was thrown off at the same time.

Tabitha turned around toward Saito.

“Finish it off.”

Holding his wounded side, Saito moved towards the gargoyle, who was struggling to fly away.

“Oh my... Knight of the North Parterre. A pet dog defying its master?”

Tabitha lifted her staff.

“...Don't misunderstand. Never once have I swore allegiance to you people.”

The gargoyle, struggling with its severe wounds, spoke in a small voice.

“I will report on your treachery. Besides, we've already captured our intended prey.”

The moment those words were said...

A huge shadow fell from the sky.

With wings spanning 30 meters... it was a gigantic gargoyle.

“Hu-Huge!!”

This gargoyle was many times bigger than the one before.

Grabbing the unconscious Louise with its left hand, it quickly rose in the air.

By a mere flap of the wings of the gigantic gargoyle, Saito and Tabitha were blown away and hit the ground hard.

Tabitha, who recovered quickly, whistled.

Giving off a roar, Sylphid flew and landed in front of Tabitha.

Nimbly straddling the dragon, Tabitha called out to Saito.

“Come on.”

While holding his injured side, Saito climbed onto Sylphid's back. Tabitha held out her hand, helping him up.

“Chase them.”

At Tabitha's brief command, and with a Kyui! purring sound, Sylphid soared into the sky.

Saito and Tabitha were riding Sylphid on its back, pursuing the huge gargoyle. Was Myoznitnirn controlling the gargoyles from somewhere...? Her figure could not be seen on its back.

“Hey Tabitha. Tell me. Why did you attack me? Who are those fellows?”

Tabitha was staring straight forward... and muttered,

“We'll talk afterwards.”

“Got it,”

Saito nodded. Indeed, now wasn't the time to listen to the reasons.

Flapping its wings, the speed of the gargoyle was not that fast. Tabitha's Sylphid managed to catch up with it easily.

Flying under the moonlight, that monstrous figure became distinct.

Before he realized it, Saito recalled the rumor he heard in the dining hall.

A dragon knight was sighted on the skies of Tristania, with huge wings...

Its figure must have been mistaken to be the mysterious bird.

Its true appearance had to be this one.

The rumors that the span of its wings was 150 mails simply had to be an exaggeration... The size might have appeared to be a few times larger due to the darkness and terror.

“Get closer! After that, I'll somehow do it!”

Tabitha nodded, and ordered Sylphid.

“Closer.”

Kyui, at that moment when Sylphid purred...

In the sky, small black dots started to appear gradually.

“Wh-What is that...?”

Those were gargoyles.

Like a flock of ravens, in a number which covered the sky, the gargoyles advanced on them.

Moving by magic, the gargoyles' yellow eyes shone. They started to surround Sylphid.

“Shit!”

There were dozens of them.

To stop them from approaching the huge one carrying Louise, they attacked with their claws and fangs.

“Kyui, kyui!”

Sylphid let out a terrified sound.

Tabitha chanted 'Windy Icicle' again... only one of them dropped down. Because of her previous battle with Saito, it seemed like her willpower had depleted.

Saito grind his teeth.

Not possessing any firearms, Gandálfr was powerless in such a situation.

“Damn it all!... What Gandálfr! Without a weapon I can't do anything at all!”

Be it a knight or a Chevalier, he was shameful of himself who was once celebrated.

At that moment... Tabitha informed Saito softly,

“Up there.”

He looked up... The thing which was spreading out... was an enormous shadow.

“Wh-What is that....”

Truly enormous... besides that, nothing else could describe it. It was flying with its black wings.

That appearance was like a demon spreading its wings...

Shushushushushu...A unique sound could be heard from it.

The dragon knight's report was not wrong.

Its overall width was more than 150 mails.

“This thing is so big... Does it really exist?”

Compared to the flock of gargoyles and the one carrying Louise, that was about 50 times bigger. Apparently, it was an ultra big gargoyle...

No matter how you think of it, going against such an opponent was unreasonable.

If they didn't want to die, they had to escape from there.

In spite of that, Tabitha did not try to make Sylphid retreat.

On the contrary, she stopped dodging the enemy, and made Sylphid fly at the same level as it.

“Oi, Tabitha! That reckless!”

Tabitha stared straight at the gargoyle who was holding Louise.

To stop Tabitha, the gargoyles rushed from the front and prepared to rip Sylphid's wings.

There were seven of them.

It exceeded the number Saito could deal with.

“Run Tabitha! You'll die!”

“You helped me.”

“Eh?”

“I offer this life to you.”

For him, Tabitha was going as far as sacrificing her life. At his helplessness, Saito ground his teeth hard.

“Damn it all!!”

Like revolving lanterns, Louise's face, Siesta's face and Mr. Colbert's face flitted across his mind.

What succeeding teacher's wish!

What the things I can do!

Protecting the one girl I love... I can't even do it!

“Teacher! The things you did, I can't even do half of them... no, not even a tenth of them!”

Facing the sky, Saito yelled.

The seven gargoyles were approaching them from the front...

The moment they intersected each other, Tabitha, Sylphid, and he himself... would be torn up into pieces by those huge claws. At that instant when he was thinking that he would be struck and fall...

From the gigantic, dark shadow on top, flames spread.

That was... a roaring flame.

Like a planted snake, it encircled the gargoyles which were trying to strike them... and reduced them to ashes.

Saito and Tabitha were taken aback, and looked up to the sky.

“Why?”

“Ally...?”

Voices could be heard.

“'Not even a tenth of them.', what do you mean?”

From the skies, that voice reverberated.

As if it was transmitted through a megaphone or something else, it strangely echoed.

Nevertheless, that voice rang a bell.

In the laboratory, in the classrooms, in the courtyard... a voice he had heard many times.

“Teacher?”

Saito murmured.

He shook his head after that. It was a hallucination, teacher was supposed to have died.

It was merely an imaginary voice he heard at his wit's end.

The gargoyles' assault continued. Sylphid began to dodge the attacks frantically again. Because of this, Tabitha and Saito could only cling onto it with all their might. They could not counterattack at all.

“You are not me, right? That isn't something to be ashamed of.”

That voice could be heard again.

Saito lifted his face and yelled,

“Teacher!!”

He had not heard wrongly. It was Colbert's voice.

His heart grew with joy and astonishment.

Guonguonguon...The sky sounded.

Shushushushushushu...The sound became louder.

The ultra big shadow descended slowly, and approached them who were being attacked by the gargoyles.

Saito's mouth was wide open.

The thing which appeared to be like a demon, or a mysterious bird... were the huge wings.

Yeah.

Those had to be wings. Huge wings which had a span of approximately 150 mails. Behind the wings, several huge propellers revolved.

That was a flying object which had wings of the shape of an isosceles triangle, and huge propellers with strong driving force...

Quite different from the mysterious bird, this was the real thing.

When he saw those propellers... Saito's hope turned into belief.

“You're alive...”

After that, a lady's voice that contained excellent, sensual charm which hadn't been heard for a long time echoed.

“You guys, what are you doing? Looks very fun, doesn't it? Since when did you manage to make friends with gargoyles?”

At that voice, Tabitha lifted her face.

“I was thinking of secretly arriving at the academy, and display this Ostland to surprise you all. But recently, we made a mistake and accidentally sailed to the sky of Tristania, after which we turned back frantically.”

“Kirche!”

Sure enough, that was the voice of Kirche who had not shown herself at the academy since taking Colbert's remains to Germania.

Next, Colbert's voice could be heard.

“Anyway... the 'Flying Serpents' are about to move, so be careful.”

Saito yelled at Tabitha.

“Dive down!”

Tabitha nodded. Sylphid lowered her head, and escaped downwards in a breath.

Baraaa... barabararararararaaaaa! Many shots were released from the gun barrels from the bottom of the Ostland.

From behind of the dropping shells, igniting blazes shone.

After that, shupooooo! The sound which he had heard while he was being pursued by the dragon knights in Albion the other day, reverberated from the sky.

Like fireworks which shot out in the night sky, Colbert's Flying Serpents were ignited completely.

The tips of the Flying Serpents were equipped with a magic device which transmits "Detect Magic." That magic device would react excitedly at the gargoyles, and the Flying Serpents would dash towards them swiftly.

Generally, there were about two or three 'Flying Serpents' pursuing each gargoyle.

At a point-blank range near the gargoyles, the Flying Serpents would explode into pieces, which would scatter at the gargoyles, smashing them to pieces.

The gargoyles could not even think about escaping. One by one, they dropped to the ground.

One of the serpents reacted to Tabitha's magic, and flew towards her.

Saito jumped from the top of Sylphid, and slashed it.

Before he knew it, he could no longer feel even the pain at the side of his stomach.

The teacher is alive.

The person who recognizes me... is still alive.

The person who had helped me many times is still alive.

And again... he is trying to save me.

That fact gave Saito courage.

“I'm not alone.”

The runes on his left hand shone.

Using the explosion just now, grasping Derflinger with his left hand, Saito caught one of the Flying Serpents in the air.

Clinging onto it which had a height about the same as Saito's, he forcibly turned the head of the Flying Serpent to fly towards the gargoyle which was holding Louise. The magic device which had Detect Magic in it, sensed that gargoyle, and rushed swiftly towards it.

On top of the Flying Serpent, Saito adopted a stance as if crouching on top of a surfboard.

He approached the gargoyle in a furious speed.

He timed it properly.

Precisely a second before the collision, Saito leaped from the top of the Serpent, and sliced through the arm which had seized Louise. Just like that, he caught Louise in the sky.

Almost simultaneously, an explosion occurred behind that Serpent, and the gargoyle whose arm was sliced through was blasted into smithereens.

They were lifted up by the blast... but Saito did not part with Louise.

Fragments shot into his body, sending intense pain to him.

In spite of that, Saito did not let go of Louise.

They were blown upward by the explosion until they reached the apex, and then dropped due to gravity.

There were traces of tears in Louise's eyes.

Gazing at that, Saito began to think of thoughts which pressed hard upon his heart. Has she broken free from the magical hypnotism due to the gargoyle...? Those eyes opened quickly.

“Yo, yo...”

Saito said, and...

“Release me!”

Louise began to struggle.

“I-idiot! We are falling down now! Don't struggle!”

“I don't care! That's enough, let me off! I hate you the most!! Just die! I hate you and Princess the most!! Both of you lied to me together! Definitely unforgivable!!”

“I've said already, that was what it turned out to be...”

Even though Saito tried frantically to sooth her, Louise was still bawling and struggled with her hands. Perhaps she would be accidentally released like this. It would be terrible if they were to separate during the fall. I must somehow sooth her.

“I hate you! Let me off! That's enough!”

Looking at the bawling Louise... Saito knew that he could not make her understand through words.

Wh-What should I do...?

He could not help but to be troubled. Saito looked straight at Louise, and said.

“I love you, Louise. Only you!”

“Liar! I don't believe you! I HATE you!”

Louise increasingly ran amok.

There is no other way. Damn, if things become like this...

Saito hugged the raging Louise tightly. Louise was kicking and struggling, but he pressed his lips hard against hers. Louise who had been struggling for quite a while... eventually, ngu... she murmured, and became quiet.

But we'll die if we continue dropping like this! ...While he was thinking about that, buon! Its voice could be heard, as Tabitha's Sylphid scooped them up.

Hugging the still weeping Louise, he looked up to the sky...

Under the moonlight, traveling grandly in the sky, the Ostland on which Colbert and Kirche were riding could be seen.

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