Ch.132Pelheim Senova (5)

Fellheim Senova (5)

The tide hadn’t turned.

Esmeralda didn’t let her guard down even as she watched Garnet join the battle.

Garnet could only keep Force Six occupied at best. She didn’t think Garnet could actually defeat Six.

Rather, she should be grateful if Garnet could buy them some time.

In this situation, what Esmeralda needed to do was straightforward.

“Alright. Tina, let’s do this like usual.”

“Yes!”

“Two youngsters with bright futures attacking an old woman? How deplorable. What is the world coming to?”

“I might have felt guilty before, but now you just look like a lady to me, Lady Fellheim Senova.”

“Oh, it’s been a while since I’ve heard such words.”

“Really? I think you’ve heard them quite often.”

Esmeralda broke into a cold sweat as she watched Fellheim Senova casually put a cigarette in her mouth.

Such a relaxed gesture. Yet there wasn’t a single opening to be found.

The beginning and end of this battle were entirely at her discretion.

“Come to think of it, we were interrupted earlier. What do you think, Hero?”

“…”

“When you reach the end of your journey, with honor and glory in your hands. What do you plan to do next?”

“Well, I…”

Clang!

In the middle of speaking, Esmeralda barely managed to deflect Fellheim Senova’s rapier that came flying at her.

Attacking while pretending to make conversation. Another cowardly tactic that humans would use.

“How long can you hold out with just that symbolism?”

Feeling more weight behind Fellheim Senova’s attack than expected, Esmeralda deflected the sword tip but lost her balance.

While she pushed the sword away slightly, her body twisted much more.

If Fellheim Senova pursued now, she would be helpless.

“I’m here too!”

Tina filled that gap.

From the opposite side of where Esmeralda was pushed back, Tina swung her dual daggers at Fellheim Senova, trying to press her.

Dazzling movements of the daggers. Strikes that matched their speed.

“Of course I knew. As a commander, I pride myself on having a broad field of vision.”

She blocked everything with just the rapier in her hand.

The rapier moved faster than the daggers wielded with both hands.

In such a situation, one hand was bound to be free, and that freedom immediately led to her next move.

“Ugh!”

Fellheim Senova, who had half-turned her body to block Tina, rotated further to complete a 180-degree turn.

The position of her sword reversed, and her free hand grabbed Esmeralda’s collar as she was off-balance.

“Even with a broad view, this is how it turns out. This is what we’ve come to.”

Gripping Esmeralda’s collar, Fellheim Senova immediately threw her toward Tina.

Tina’s vision was blocked as she was continuously swinging her dual daggers to counter Fellheim Senova’s offensive.

Swoosh—

Esmeralda was thrown off-balance, and Tina’s vision was limited because of her.

And the rapier thrust diagonally at both of them.

“Hmm?”

But at that moment, a circular blade flew from behind Esmeralda.

A chakram flew toward her.

Not from Tina, but from another being.

The dragon race, Tanha’s attack.

“I hadn’t heard about this talent.”

Fellheim Senova deflected the chakram with two swings of her rapier.

And at that moment.

“Hmm?”

Screech!

The wire attached to the chakram momentarily restricted Fellheim Senova’s rapier movement.

Mobility with brakes applied.

A timing opportunity lost.

As Esmeralda was thrown, Tanha charged forward in a low crouch, crossing paths with her and thrusting a dagger.

“Hmm…”

Thud!

Fellheim Senova immediately released her rapier and delivered a low kick toward the approaching Tina.

It was innovative.

Lowering her body to avoid collision with Esmeralda while taking advantage of the visual perspective.

Thanks to her lowered posture, she could approach faster and more stealthily than ever.

But there were clear risks involved, and Fellheim Senova didn’t miss that opportunity.

“Gah!”

“Binding my sword and charging from below was good, but you should have prepared for attacks coming from below as well, little miss.”

Tanha felt her head go white as she was sent flying by Fellheim Senova’s low kick that accurately struck her face.

It was a good position for a surprise attack, but also a position most vulnerable to a kick.

“Ah, kicking a woman’s face? You lack manners, Lady.”

“I’m just an ill-mannered soldier. By the way, the hero’s party becomes more extraordinary the more I see it. Last time you had some demon with you, and now you even have a dragon race?”

“From the perspective of promoting harmony, isn’t that a good thing?”

Esmeralda, who had finally regained her posture, grumbled.

She could hardly breathe. Just one exchange had been life-threatening.

Without Tina’s efforts, without Tanha’s surprise attack, she would have died five times over already.

And having revealed their tactics, it was hard to believe the same methods would work again.

“Being this weak, can you really defeat the Demon Lord?”

“Well, I’m still a rookie to be discussing that.”

Clang!

This time, Esmeralda launched a surprise attack first. The twelve swords she controlled moved in various directions, targeting Fellheim Senova from angles that were hard to perceive, and Fellheim Senova deflected them as usual.

A one-sided offensive from a distance. But it was Esmeralda who was troubled by it.

‘I can’t find an opening.’

While the telekinetic swords were useful, they couldn’t exert as much power as wielding them directly.

Since Esmeralda could create sword auras, the difference was even greater than before.

“Not good. If you rely too much on such convenient techniques…”

Whoosh!

Fellheim Senova, who instantly appeared before Esmeralda’s eyes, thrust her rapier again.

“Your mind tends to wander.”

It was just as Fellheim Senova said.

Focused on pressuring the opponent from a distance, she failed to concentrate on herself. That’s why even now, as Fellheim Senova approached suddenly and spoke, she could only stand frozen, unable to respond properly.

Swoosh.

Elegantly, beautifully. The rapier pierced through Esmeralda’s shoulder.

Esmeralda finally came to her senses with the pain of her shoulder being pierced.

“Ugh!”

Thud!

Realizing it was too late, Esmeralda swung her holy sword at Fellheim Senova instead of defending or evading.

“That action was good. Your situational judgment itself is decent.”

“…”

But Fellheim Senova gracefully avoided Esmeralda’s attack and returned to her original position, quietly observing her.

The difference in skill was evident.

“Are you afraid of me?”

“…”

“Surely as time passes, you will become stronger than me. Perhaps you’ll literally become the strongest. You are the Hero, after all.”

Fellheim Senova spoke while looking at the dazed Esmeralda.

“But people die. When you age, your strength diminishes, and honor and glory gained through power are quickly tarnished by money and power.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Esmeralda asked, clutching her bleeding shoulder. Was it because she had seen blood? She could remain surprisingly calm.

“Even I am like this. And if you don’t prepare countermeasures, you will end up like this too.”

“That’s…”

Used and discarded.

Fellheim Senova, now with diminished power, had become prey for those who wielded wealth and power as weapons.

And it would be similar for Esmeralda. After defeating the Demon Lord, how would she be viewed?

Would people leave her alone, someone who was essentially a time bomb with unnecessary strength?

Even if they did leave her alone, it would be because she had power.

What if that power faded? Would people still leave her alone then?

Her, whose very existence had become a symbol that checked wealth and power?

No, the premise was wrong.

What guarantee was there that those in power would leave her alone until she defeated the Demon Lord?

She was already having headaches because of the Celestial Church and the Magic Tower.

It could get even worse.

“People are inherently fearful creatures, so even when someone clearly states their intentions, they constantly doubt. Even if you put shackles on yourself and advocate for peace, they’ll say you’re up to no good behind the scenes.”

“Thanks for the bitter experience.”

“Well, the words of elders are meant to be taken to heart.”

Fellheim Senova knew.

Esmeralda would follow a similar path as her.

Even if she harbored noble intentions, there was no guarantee people would recognize them.

They might doubt, criticize, and brand her as a liar.

“It would be best to avoid such situations, but if you find yourself in a situation like mine, what would you do?”

What she wanted to ask.

“If you haven’t yet defeated the Demon Lord, and yet foolish people appear who brand you as a traitor to humanity and drive you out.”

What she absolutely needed to confirm.

“What choice would you make then? Wouldn’t it be better to join this side, like me?”

“…”

The definition of a Hero, Esmeralda.

What thoughts did the one bearing that name harbor?

That was Fellheim Senova’s self-centered and selfish question.

“No. I will still fight for people.”

“Even if they falsely defame your honor?”

“You said it yourself.”

Esmeralda raised her sword.

She put down all the telekinetic swords that had been troubling Fellheim Senova and held only the holy sword.

“That people are fearful. That’s right. They’re afraid. It’s natural to fear those with power. That’s why I took up the sword for such people. I raised my sword to protect those fearful people despite everything.”

Yes, she had taken up the holy sword.

She had chosen to walk the thorny path that someone had to walk.

Wasn’t that what she had resolved to do the moment she took up the sword?

“No matter what situation arises, I will carry out my will.”

“…”

Fellheim Senova looked at the girl who pointed her sword at her.

She looked into the girl’s green eyes.

At those resolute eyes that sparkled like jewels, Fellheim Senova found herself unconsciously raising the corners of her mouth.

“Thank you. That was a definitive answer to my question.”

Ah, yes.

Now she could rest easy.

She could throw away her life with peace of mind.

With her around, even if Fellheim Senova herself wasn’t there, the world could improve.

Fellheim Senova was convinced.