Book 9 Chapter 15

Episode 214

"Are they slacking off somewhere, why aren't they here yet?"

Rem grumbled for the fifth time.

It was also the third time he had sent an errand boy to order cool traditional liquor with a mint scent.

It was a village that appeared after walking about half a day past the great bridge, and they were supposed to meet there.

"I wonder if something happened?"

At Bart's words, Rem snorted.

"Hmph, that's ridiculous. I checked thoroughly when we passed through the great bridge, and there were no suspicious signs."

"Hmm."

"What, you don't believe me? Maybe they stopped playing pretend married couple and are genuinely getting cozy."

The instant he said that, a crack suddenly spread across the teacup, and with a *chink*, it shattered cleanly.

Serwebon cried out once and emitted light.

At that ominous omen, Rem burped.

"Hmm, did something really happen?"

Just then, a sound caught the archer's keen hearing.

- …Run, run away…

Footsteps hurrying into the village, the sound of carriage wheels, merchants perhaps? Screams and murmurs filled with panic, and warnings.

"Plague, it's the plague! The plague has spread to the great bridge! It will reach here soon too!"

"Plague?"

"The plague that spreads in plague zones, I mean! The great bridge has become a complete chaos! That plague will spread here too, we must escape quickly!"

Plague?

Rem and Bart's gazes met for an instant; they placed two silver coins on the table and immediately rushed out of the inn.

* * *

"Image Construction, Lightning Spear Chant: Wandering World-Honored One."

Like dots of paint on white paper, the rune of lightning flickers at the center of the spreading magic circle that stains the ground golden.

The four subsidiary defense formations that emerge from that circle are octagons, the magic squares of electricity.

Transcendent lightning, indescribably overwhelming, leaps and glows in various parts of the defense formations.

- Shirphen, or rather, the special ability of the greatsword-type holy sword, is to absorb some of the enemy's magical power. It uses that to amplify its strength.

300 years ago, a conversation with Riesta comes to mind.

Riesta Alter Shirphen.

Since the middle name Alter originally means 'proxy' or 'substitute', I have no intention of claiming that only he is the sword master of Shirphen.

- In other words, the greater the extraordinary power Shirphen faces, the greater the limit of power I can wield! Isn't that fantastic?

But it is not a holy sword to be used like that. It should not be used to cut down and kill innocent people.

Just as Serwebon was our comrade as part of Kies, Shirphen was also a comrade who accompanied us to the ends of the earth.

"Pipi, Aki! Protect Obin."

"Understood!"

"Pipi, Pipi, Pipi."

The moment I took a breath, exhaled, and cleared my thoughts, I saw the assassin kicking off the ground.

"Line Iron Halberd."

*Crack*, with the sound of electric current burning, countless thunderous stakes shoot up from the defense formations of the image barrier.

A 5-star steel-attribute magic devised during the period of turmoil; now that the attribute has been replaced with lightning, its speed is, needless to say, incredibly fast.

The lightning barrier and the light-speed slash collided, and with a *crrrack*, a terrifying gust of wind tore at the skin and raged.

"Chains of Control and Ruin, Lightning Style."

Before the aftershock could sweep heavily past my feet, I activated the rune of 'Reverence' (尊) within the barrier.

Chains twice as powerful as usual without an activated image barrier, lash out with lightning-like speed, targeting the assassin's limbs.

Was it a coincidence that Riesta's image suddenly overlapped with the assassin's form, dodging those chains with acrobatic, minimal movements?

'It's no coincidence.'

Can the sword, swordsmanship, and movements be so identical?

Watching the assassin, who with divine footwork dodged the explosive chains and slowly closed the distance, I couldn't stop cold sweat from breaking out.

And the next moment, after all restraints were broken, the staff and Shirphen collided, and an intense pain, as if my wrist bones were shattering, shot through me.

'It's a huge relief that Setsunen's power is supporting my wrist.'

It wasn't just intense pain; my body almost flew back due to the wind pressure unleashed by that ferocious blade.

Shirphen's blade began to glow like a flame. It was slowly absorbing the power of the enemy it was facing, Alakish.

What struck my head then was not physical pain, but mental pain.

"You, you… who exactly are you?"

What happened?

I blankly took a breath.

Even the slightest habits forming a single movement could be so identical to Riesta's…?

[Aruu…!]

My arms were gradually pushed back by overwhelming strength, and the blade closed in on my face, at that very moment.

"Get back!"

Milia's red afterimage filled my vision, and the oppressive force that was pushing my body down receded.

'Stop it, I don't have time for other thoughts.'

Even at best, the compatibility between a swordsman and a mage is 8:2.

The mage is unconditionally at a disadvantage.

It was precisely because of this compatibility that Milonne Alter Gaumrris, though several ranks below Nariaduke, could gain an advantage in combat.

Because mages are, by nature, not specialized in one-on-one combat, but in one-to-many combat.

'And that Shirphen is, as a mage, truly the worst opponent…'

It would be an absurd strategy, but I'll act as if I'm facing Riesta.

Activate the rune of 'Flow' (流).

Recalling the movements I saw 300 years ago, the next action will be a right dodge.

"…!"

And the left foot taking a step forward.

With that, the momentum of evasion will switch to an aggressive momentum that leaps out. The gap will surely narrow as if in a leap.

I read it perfectly up to that point.

'Got it.'

Before the assassin, who surged forward to my throat with an eerily smooth curve, could strike my neck with Shirphen's blade.

The chains of Chains of Control and Ruin, deployed beforehand, shot straight for their body.

From the right, from the left, from the ground, from the sky, truly from all directions… With this, target lock complete.

Magic square construction, 5-star.

The runes inscribed are Cannon (砲), Manifest (闡), Annihilate (殲), Strike (激), Lightning (雷).

"Flash Lightning Heavenly Strike Cannon."

A 5-star fire magic created in Linkland by mimicking a dragon's breath, replaced with the lightning attribute, focusing on speed rather than power.

With that speed, to decisively seize victory at the flickering boundary between life and death in an instant.

The sound of the magic circle shattering, and from within that sound, the absolute thunder strike is born with a roar.

Before the sound ended, before my eyes were so dazzled that I instinctively closed my eyelids, a fierce flash dyed the earth golden…

"…?"

…The moment I was convinced I had taken a step closer to victory, Bell Curius amplified my concentration to the extreme, and the flow of the world suddenly slowed down.

In the slowed world where everything was precisely perceived, it was clearly visible.

The assassin's movements, re-gripping the hilt of the sword with terrifying speed, as if ignoring the laws of that slowed world all by himself.

An unknown sense of dread swept coldly through my mind.

No, I can definitely know its true nature.

Because around me, no, the spacetime around the great bridge where I stood, was shimmering like a heat haze.

'Spacetime Annihilation.'

Did Bell Curius amplify my concentration to evade this attack? If I stay like this, it's certainly possible to evade and counterattack.

If I do that, I can win with a very high probability.

But if I did that…

To my right and behind me, as soon as my eyes met Aki, who was looking at me with a tilt of her head, my body moved before my mind.

*Screech, creak, SHING!*

Along the trajectory of the slash, a thin crack spread through spacetime.

That crack shattered like a windowpane, cutting through all creation in that area.

Spacetime Annihilation cast with Shirphen ignores all defenses of any existence located in its trajectory and cuts them down.

The secret art that allowed Riesta to end the period of turmoil and be revered as a hero, not just a warrior.

The reason why even the fame of the Dragon Slayer, who reigned over the previous era with the illustrious name of 'Humanity's Foremost Sword', was forgotten.

The time it takes for a heart to beat once passed.

Hals Dracius, a straight void appeared on the great bridge that symbolized peace brought by dragons.

As if signifying the advent of the final era… As if providence resisted the sudden void that emerged, a fierce storm raged, making clothes flap.

"Cough."

Only then did a heavy clump of breath burst from my throat, along with blood and stomach acid that had scorched my esophagus.

"Aki, you're not hurt, are you?"

Even then, I could smile.

Maybe I had to.

Because I could see Aki and Pipi were safe. Even though blood was pouring out from the gap where my insides were exposed by the slash that deeply cut my chest.

"Ah, Awoo…?"

It was a good thing I instantly cast a barrier concentrating the powers of the two magic orbs and Celesia into one; if even one of these three hadn't been there, my upper body would have been severed by now.

"Rin, Rin, Rin, Rin, Rin."

Pipi flew over frantically, but the outcome was already clear. Setsunen had returned to the form of a baby dragon.

"Pipi, take Aki and Nen and…"

Before I could finish my sentence, *clank*, a heavy shadow dyed my vision dark.

I realized that obliterating a target without holding back any moves was the mark of a first-rate assassin. And I thought that the words I had just spoken to Pipi might become my last.

The image barrier began to dissipate, and while Valencidis and Milia were rushing towards me, they would be about half a beat too late.

'Should I have aimed for victory, even if it meant abandoning Aki?'

No.

Even if it were unconditionally right to do so, I would have done this.

'No regrets. Even if the same situation came up several times, I would have done this.'

If Aki or Nen had been behind me.

In that fleeting moment when I instinctively sensed the end and turned my head forward, the time of my life suddenly stopped.

Is this when one says they "doubt their eyes"?

'Could it be that I still haven't woken up from this nightmare?'

Was it because they aimed to kill me rather than neutralize the power of the Flash Lightning Heavenly Strike Cannon?

Whether the helmet that covered their entire head had melted away or been flung off, their face was now completely exposed.

It was an extremely serene expression.

Emotionless eyes, devoid of any light of feeling—neither sorrow nor joy, neither malice nor goodwill.

'No.'

Although I couldn't possibly think they were the same eyes that were always richly filled with some emotion or another.

'Yes, how could this be?'

It felt like being in an unclean nightmare. Yet that face, those eyes.

"…Riesta?"

Why did my heart ache as if pricked by needles, just by uttering that name aloud?

Why, why?

Pipi, who had almost fallen to the ground, stopping even her flapping wings for a moment in bewilderment, spoke almost at the same time as I did.

"Genuine, genuine, genuine."

And though I thought that might be the last emotion and voice for both of us…

From the blade of Shirphen, which the assassin had raised above their head, a sword-light suddenly flickered as if sobbing.

Then, a momentary tremor appeared in the assassin's eyes, who had intended to bring the blade down vertically to take our lives.

"Mission…"

He swallowed a gasp.

He painfully clutched his forehead.

And with the voice that came out then, that voice like the clear, refreshing sunlight of a spring day.

"I must carry out the mission…"

His knees buckled, as if the last thread supporting his breaking body had snapped.

"Rein Ludwig!"

By the time Milia stood between Riesta and me, and Valencidis supported me, the situation had already deteriorated to its worst.

"No matter how much of a hero he may be, he is ultimately human."

Three shadows appeared in my vision, which was gradually turning earthy and fading.

One holding a spear without a blade.

One holding a bow.

One with hands clasped as if in prayer.

Exuding a presence several times more formidable than the nightmarish musician I had faced earlier, and radiating a suffocatingly powerful killing intent.

Are they the true powers behind the Dawn Brigade?

"Even if the body is a humble human, the spirit dwelling within is a dragon."

The sound of a bowstring being drawn is heard.

"Show some basic courtesy."

Explosive light burst from the spear without a shaft, and then a spearhead began to form.

"Instead of an unworthy human, we, the first descendants, shall take his life."

Just as my second life was reaching its end, a sound like an exploding flame was heard. It was Aki's cry as she blocked their path.

That called forth a miracle.

Instantly, my entire body, Valencidis's body, Milia's body, Pipi's body, Obin's body, Setsunen's body, Aki's body were engulfed in flames.

"Hm…?!"

It was a flame imbued with an undeniable power.

But it wasn't hot.

It was the same warmth that had sent me to the future in that remote Arctic region. Alakish's power? No, impossible. Alakish is…

"A flame-attribute spacetime transfer?"

"Did such power exist?"

"They're escaping, finish them!"

The moment their power was about to reach us, the landscape of the great bridge warped and changed as if by magic.

The salty smell of the sea vanished, and its place was filled with the distinct dust and moldy odor of an old basement.

The horizon where the sea and sky coolly met disappeared, and a somewhat ominous yet comfortable darkness dominated my vision.

Where is this?

What on earth just happened?

Before any of us could voice that question, *flicker*, a mysterious flame rose from the darkness, like a candle being lit.

"I hope you will forgive the rudeness of having no choice but to call upon you in such a bewildering manner."

The atmosphere in the basement quietly trembled at the voice produced by that flame. It was proof of a transcendent presence.

For one thing, it wasn't Alakish. It was the voice of an old, solemn man.

I felt my soul tremble. I distinctly felt the fragment of Alakish, permeated in my soul, crying out.

"Awoo?"

Aki seemed to feel a strange familiarity with that voice and stepped forward, while Setsunen clung to me, but her consciousness was hazy, so it wasn't clear.

"Until my sister's kin resonated with my call, I could not intervene in the situation, for my physical body long ago withered and crumbled, and what remains here now is but the residue of my spirit."

The red blade disappeared from the Demon Sword Milia was clutching tightly in both hands.

She asked.

Who are you? No, who *are* you?

"My name, given to me by the Great Flame, as the second of the originally five Red True Dragons, is Shalesarum, which in your tongue means 'to embrace'."

Shalesarum?

Perhaps because one unbelievable event followed another, now even my brain felt no shock.

If it's Shalesarum, he should have died 500 years ago. Isn't he the owner of the stone statue erected on the great bridge?

"Thank you for your help, but do you have a specific purpose for calling us?"

Valencidis, who always liked to get straight to the point, asked firmly. Shalesarum replied in a strangely sorrowful voice.

"Indeed. It is to enable you to prevent the calamity that will befall this land, and thereby to judge my daughter."