episode_0049

000

Contaminated land under a black sky.

Here and there are devastated because of fierce battles.

Like the traces of a giant monster passing by.

The earth’s scars, deeply carved by swords, are visible here and there.

Talteck, holding the Holy Sword, radiating murderous intent, and flashing his eyes.

For a moment, Rubella and Cleon talk about something.

Soon, Cleon’s body slumps.

“What is it. That guy… Did he faint?”

Talteck said, half-closing one eye as if he was losing interest.

However, he does not release the power from the sword he is holding.

Rather, he seemed to be carefully examining where he should cut Rubella, who was blocking the space between him and Cleon.

“Yes, well. That’s what happened.”

In contrast, Rubella returns the sword to its scabbard, placing her right hand on the hilt.

If Talteck approaches, how should she parry?

She was single-mindedly thinking only about that.

The full power of the Sword Saint, which Cleon and she were barely holding back together.

Can I really handle it alone?

She glances at this heartless man’s face.

Is it because his consciousness has completely left his body?

That face, quietly closing his eyes and looking down.

It looked a little foolish somehow.

She laughs without realizing it.

“Swept up in the atmosphere, I even made a promise that doesn’t suit me.”

And she lowered her waist, glaring at Talteck.

The stance of Iaijutsu.

“Rubella, was it? It’s quite a unique swordsmanship. Where did you learn it?”

Talteck, intrigued by her swordsmanship, casually asks Rubella.

Rubella paused for a moment and then spoke.

“Duke Hughes, in case he ever needed to eliminate his political enemies, summoned an assassination sword master and had me learn from him.”

“Ha. He probably didn’t know that he would be killed by it.”

Talteck said, as if amused, and continued to speak.

“I fought a guy who used that kind of swordsmanship in the Empire before. She was a woman wearing a mask.”

“Hooh…. That’s a coincidence. My swordsmanship master also wore a mask.”

A brief silence follows.

Then, Talteck instantly penetrates Rubella’s gap and swings the Holy Sword with his right hand along with tremendous force.

Rubella draws her sword in an instant, as if she had predicted it.

`Shadow Entanglement.`

Iaijutsu that is drawn at super high speed, releasing magic power from inside the scabbard.

Even the Sword Saint Talteck would not be able to avoid this sword.

In fact, Talteck swings his sword without realizing that Rubella’s sword is being drawn.

But.

“What…!”

Rubella is shocked.

Her sword was blocked.

However, it was not the Holy Sword.

The red sword that Talteck originally had, which had not yet been drawn from its scabbard.

Without looking at Rubella’s attack with his `eyes`.

Only the `body` reacted and moved instinctively.

The next moment, the Holy Sword cuts Rubella’s body.

Since her attack was blocked, Talteck’s movement did not stop.

From her left shoulder to her right side.

A deep wound opens up.

“Keuk…!”

Blood spurts out in an instant.

If she hadn’t moved her body back instantly, her heart would have been cut through.

It wasn’t fatal, but it was a wound that could be called a fatal wound.

Talteck swings the Holy Sword, shaking off the blood on the sword.

He looked at the sword he was holding in his left hand and raised the corners of his lips.

“It’s the same as back then. However, back then, that masked woman fell.”

Rubella clicked her tongue and poured the potion she had prepared to stop the bleeding.

Thinking about it, it was obvious.

Her and her master’s sword is an assassination sword.

Only one. Swordsmanship specialized in killing people.

The fact that that man survived after facing such a master.

Means that the man defeated the master.

Her mind becomes dizzy as the amount of blood flowing out increases.

The strength in her legs and arms decreases.

The contaminated black earth looks like a fluffy bed in the Count’s room.

Revenge on Duke Hughes is complete.

Eustace is not even worth killing.

Then, wouldn’t it be okay to collapse and fall asleep like this?

A sweet temptation envelops her injured body.

“Hahaha! There’s no time to be spaced out!”

But that gorilla doesn’t allow it.

Completely looking down on Rubella as his inferior.

He approaches with a leisurely gait and swings his sword haphazardly.

An unorganized trajectory, just like Eustace swings his sword ridiculously.

But if the Sword Saint Talteck is doing it.

Even formless slashes threaten life one by one.

Rubella bit her lower lip tightly and raised her sword.

She already knew.

Talteck can cut off her or Cleon’s head at any time.

But the reason he doesn’t is simple.

This man likes the act of clashing swords itself.

That’s why he doesn’t kill Cleon, who has stopped moving like a puppet doll with broken strings, right away, but tramples on Rubella.

However, even if Rubella puts down her sword, this man will not show mercy.

The moment she dies or gives up.

He will cut down Cleon and herself without hesitation.

The sound of swords tearing through the ears echoed countless times.

Each time, the muscles in Rubella’s arms are damaged, and the sound of bones cracking echoes.

“Keukeu, commendable. To continue the fight with me with that body.”

“…To be honest, I want to quit right now….”

Unceasing sword and arms.

She compensates for the lack of speed and power with magic power.

She says that it minimizes the burden on her arms, but.

Even that Laila showed that magic power has its limits.

Rubella also felt that the magic power she was using for body strengthening was gradually running out.

Talteck also sees that the resistance is gradually weakening each time he faces the sword.

The smile disappears from his face.

The corners of his lips are turned down, and he looks bored.

“What. Is it magic power depletion? That’s why those magic swordsmen are….”

Talteck sighs, but that doesn’t mean he slows down the speed at which he swings his sword.

“You can use magic, and you have a magic sword. But it’s mediocre.”

Of course, the same goes for the Hero.

The fact that multiple roles are possible means, conversely, that it is impossible to exert full strength only by focusing on one role like Talteck or Laila.

Cleon is behind Laila in magic.

Rubella is behind Talteck in swordsmanship.

Of course, this is also because the two being compared are experts in their fields, who are among the best in the continent.

The supreme realm built over a long period of time.

If you try to grasp both magic and swordsmanship awkwardly, when you collide with someone who possesses this realm.

Unless you have a secret plan to neutralize your opponent, it is difficult to win.

The reason Cleon was able to defeat Laila was only because he had information he had obtained while observing Laila for a year.

Rubella’s head is gradually emptying.

She gradually doesn’t understand what this gorilla is saying.

Has the impact felt in her arm reached her head?

[Rubella…]

But that voice was clearly heard.

A girl’s voice.

The sound of swords deafening her ears.

In the end, the sensation of blood flowing from her palm beyond her limits.

And the words of Talteck, who constantly provokes and ignores her.

That voice that erases all of this cleanly.

It was felt from the sword she was holding in her hand.

[Rubella.]

The magic sword calls her name once again.

Rubella was silent for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“Don’t call my name, do something you can do.”

It was a very heartless word to say to a partner who she had been with her whole life, and will continue to be with for the rest of her life.

Talteck, seeing Rubella suddenly saying incomprehensible words, momentarily stopped his sword.

[Y-You’re too much…! I just woke up!]

“If you don’t want to fall asleep again. Do it.”

As Rubella ordered, the sword moved on its own.

“Did it awaken! In this situation!”

Talteck smiles as if he is amused and swings his sword.

Barisada, which moved on its own, deflects Talteck’s sword as it is.

Before she knew it, the sword that had returned to its original position moved as if drawing along the trajectory it had moved once.

This time, it cuts off Talteck’s right arm.

Blood spurts out, and a sword wound is engraved on Talteck’s arm.

“Keueu…! Did you strengthen your arm with magic power and move it instantly…! You don’t even have magic power, but you managed to create such a thing…!`

“It’s not acceleration.”

“What…?”

The next moment, Talteck saw Rubella’s appearance in front of him distorted.

He saw her appear above his head.

If he quickly turned his body to defend above.

Once again, his body is distorted, and this time he is back where he was standing just before.

“Wind Pond.”

This time, an attack comes in, accurately aiming for his undefended neck.

The blade of magic power, which would normally occur with a slight time difference.

This time, it targets Talteck’s neck at the same time.

Talteck quickly bends his body backwards to avoid the attack.

He had no choice but to back away due to Rubella’s subsequent kick.

“I see. It’s definitely not acceleration.”

Explosive acceleration has a preliminary motion.

Every time Rubella’s appearance moved, Talteck did not feel such a prelude to acceleration from her.

Rubella quietly raised her sword.

The magic power that Barisada had accumulated for 18 years returned to her body, which was almost depleted of magic power.

Her mind was gradually becoming clearer.

Rubella was thinking a little strangely about Cleon’s ability.

Of course, it is possible for all magic swordsmen to dominate others.

Even an awakened Rubella could do the same to others.

However, using the power by drawing power from the engraving of the dominated target.

As far as she knew, no one had ever demonstrated such power before.

In other words. That ability is unique to Cleon.

As Barisada awakened, Rubella knew the correct way to use this sword.

It was an ability that perfectly suited her twisted personality.

[Refraction]

As she stared at Talteck, who was rushing towards her.

Barisada naturally uses her ability.

What this sword twists is not light or anything like that.

It observes and twists the ideas related to Rubella.

In an instant, Rubella’s body moved into the air, just like before.

By refracting the current situation where Rubella is on the ground.

It changed reality to the idea that Rubella is in the air.

“Above my head again!”

Talteck stabs his sword upwards as if he knew.

Then, this time, Rubella refracts the positional relationship between Talteck and herself.

Rubella is above Talteck.

Rubella is below Talteck.

Rubella, who instantly moved below Talteck, swung her sword upwards.

This time, Talteck was also attacked in the stomach or chest, spewing blood.

“Keuk, haa…!”

Of course, there were risks for Rubella as well.

It seems like an invincible ability in close combat.

However, the consumption of magic power is high, and what can be interfered with is limited to things related to Rubella and Barisada’s bodies.

In addition, the effective range is narrow, so it is impossible to use it like teleporting a long distance in an instant.

[A-Are you okay!?]

Rubella nodded at the voice that seemed to be worried about her.

“Yes. Thanks to you…. But it’s really hard to use. If the timing is even slightly off, it feels like my magic power will evaporate as it is.”

[Sorry…]

“Keukeu, keukeukeu…”

As divine magic power spread through Talteck’s body, which had retreated backwards.

The wounds on his body began to heal again.

“Interesting…! This is how you should be! You magic swordsmen always have to be driven to the edge of the cliff to become opponents worth fighting!”

“Hmph…. You’ve completely settled into the role of the villain.”

What’s in front of her is a hero.

He is also the man who defeated the magic sword emperor who committed tyranny and atrocities with the Hero.

However, when you think about it.

The Black Magic Clan is the remnant of the Empire ruled by that Magic Sword Emperor, and they are of the same bloodline.

Both Cleon and Rubella.

Resia and this man also have a share in the fact that their lives have been greatly distorted.

But they didn’t feel any desire for revenge.

In fact, it seems that the Empire was planning to destroy the world.

They were beings that could not be left alone.

Just.

There are two emotions that Rubella has right now.

The first is the competitive spirit as a martial artist who wants to defeat this monstrous gorilla man.

And the second is.

The sense of responsibility to keep the promise with Cleon, who left this ruthless human to her and went to save Iona.

Because there was no one around her who would try to keep promises to her.

Rubella’s feeling was that she didn’t want to become such a person.

“Come on. Sword Saint. I’ll show you that I’m different from my master.”

“That’s something to look forward to…!”

Once again, the two swords clashed fiercely.

001

“Maxwell…!”

A breathless voice called the man’s name.

The man’s arms and legs had already completely turned into wood.

But his face was still barely maintaining its human form.

“Hehe…. This can’t be. I didn’t expect Young Master Eustace to come all the way here.”

Maxwell showed a good-natured face and turned to the owner of the voice.

There, trembling slightly with fear.

Still, with the determination not to run away, he stays in that spot.

The foolish figure of the young man was visible.

Eustace’s gaze naturally shifts to the blue-haired priest next to Maxwell.

It shifts to Theo.

“You’re…. Theo?! Were you also a returner!”

The woman who saved his life was a member of the terrorists.

Eustace clenched his fist as if he was frustrated.

“I had her sent from my side to monitor you. Of course, keeping you from dying was also part of the job.”

“… …”

Theo avoided Eustace’s gaze and clenched his hands tightly.

“But why did you come? There’s nothing you can do here.”

“I came to stop what my father and you are trying to do…. If you do such a thing, not only the city but many people will be sacrificed!”

Eustace points his finger at Maxwell.

Then, Maxwell couldn’t stand it and burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! People’s sacrifice, huh. Amazing. I didn’t expect such words to come out of your mouth!”

“What, what’s so funny!”

Maxwell laughed so hard that he realized that tears were not coming out of his eyes.

“Well, that’s right. You’re the one who has been living in luxury with what your father has gained by sacrificing others. What enlightenment did you get?”

Eustace felt resentment, making a sound like `Keuk….` at the accurate criticism.

“Your words are excellent. You really seem like a Hero candidate. But admit it. There’s no way you came here following such admirable ideals.”

“What…?”

Eustace is agitated by Maxwell’s words.

His heart rate is getting faster and faster.

“Humans can’t change that easily just because they’ve had a hard time for about two days.”

“I’m…!”

“Even you don’t notice it. You’re just taking on that role. I don’t feel any responsibility, courage, or consideration from you. You’re just moving on impulse.”

Maxwell’s eyes curved like crescent moons.

“You pretend to have gained enlightenment, but how shallow is it? You trained a little with the Sword Saint and you’re deluding yourself into thinking you’ve become stronger. If you pretend to be angry at your father’s misdeeds, which you’ve always been dissatisfied with, others will pay attention to you.”

“Sh, shut up!”

Eustace’s face turns pale.

He also felt that every word Maxwell said was absolutely correct.

“In the end, you’re going to throw away your own life. Humans who are wasting their lives by falling into such delusions.”

“Keuk…. Maxwell!!!”

Eventually.

Eustace, unable to contain his anger, rushes at him.

Holding a one-handed sword and wearing light armor, his posture is slightly better than before.

Still, he lacks too much experience, skill, and basic stats.

He somehow manages to avoid Maxwell’s swinging arm by bending his body in a near fluke.

However, the streak of the other arm that comes in immediately and tries to pierce his abdomen comes in from a direction he can never avoid.

He regretted that his dynamic visual acuity had improved very slightly from his training with Talteck.

Because he had to see the scene of his stomach being pierced.

“D, damn it…!”

The next moment.

Blood splattered on Eustace’s face.

However, it was not his own blood.

“My, what are you doing?”

“Ugh….”

Dark red blood spurts out, making a `Cough` sound.

“Wh, what. Why again….”

Eustace also turned pale.

He looked at the woman in front of him who had taken the hit instead of him.

He looked at Theo.

As Maxwell’s thorns were pulled out, Theo reached out her hand and suddenly unleashed a shockwave of divine magic power towards Maxwell.

Then, Maxwell groaned in pain and wrapped his body in tree trunks to protect himself and froze as it was.

“Keuheuk….”

As her body was activated due to the use of magic power, the amount of bleeding naturally increased.

Eustace doesn’t know what to do with Theo.

Soon, he took out a potion from the bag he had brought and poured it on the wound.

His internal organs, which had already been damaged, were visible beyond the wound hole.

“Yo, you saved me under Maxwell’s orders….”

“That’s right…. But that wasn’t the only reason I saved you.”

Theo, whose blood wouldn’t stop, looked at Eustace’s face.

She smiled with difficulty.

And quietly put the reason into words.