episode_0081

000

Rail’s face was, as always, dignified, appearing kind to people.

However, the atmosphere was distinctly different from usual.

The black and murky magic emanating from his body showed the size of his desires and the karma he had accumulated.

It had been hanging on his waist, honed as a hero’s attendant.

What caught Kleon’s attention was the magical tool attached to his hand.

“Soul Capture…”

“Oh, you know of it?”

The object, a black leather glove with a blue jewel embedded in it.

Was a magical tool used by the `Great Sage` who traveled with the hero Lesia in the past.

It was impossible to know whether it was the original or a imitation.

Because the magic felt was no different from what he had seen before.

Therefore, the danger of that tool made Kleon sweat coldly.

A forbidden magical tool that, true to its name, could draw out the soul from the captured target.

In the process, it inflicted serious damage to one’s own soul.

It was an item that allowed one to gain the ability to absorb the soul as their own.

“So, you were the Black Precept…”

“To be precise, I am the only disciple of the Black Precept.”

Rail shook his head and answered Kleon’s question.

While he was talking, the Demon Sword Emperor also stopped moving.

Judging from that, it was certain that he was controlling this fake Demon Sword Emperor.

“The control of the labyrinth, you stole it with that?”

“That’s right. Only a part, though. Now you know, how cornered you are.”

Kleon and Riomes also glared at him without releasing their weapons and postures.

The reason why he was the Black Precept – they were not curious about such things.

What was important was that he was the mastermind behind the current situation and, at the same time, their enemy.

“The fighting spirit doesn’t disappear from your eyes.”

Rail waved his hand as if he couldn’t help it, and the body of the fake Demon Sword Emperor, which had been standing in front of him, began to move.

Once again, a torrent of black magic raged wildly, dominating the surroundings.

It rushed towards Kleon and Riomes.

“I have no great interest in your lives. What I want is, after all, the one in the back…. the chief of the Execution Department.”

At Rail’s words referring to herself, Tina clenched her fist tightly and stepped back.

Then, the floor rose up like shackles, grabbing her feet and preventing her from moving from that spot.

“Kugh…!”

However, Riomes and Kleon didn’t seem too surprised by those words.

From the beginning, she was too suspicious.

The reason they didn’t attack her was simple.

They didn’t feel any `hostility` from her. Rather, Kleon felt a kind of respect or favor towards himself from her.

She even deliberately showed openings, but even so, she didn’t stab him in the back.

“All I need to do is extract the Demiurge she has with this Soul Capture.”

“Do you think we’ll let that happen?”

“Since you won’t, I’ll have to kill you first.”

A moment of silence flows through the heart.

And the ones who moved first were Kleon and Riomes.

Of course, they were aiming for Rail himself, who was behind the Demon Sword Emperor.

If they knocked him down, the illusion controlled by him would disappear.

Riomes’s elegant hand, burrowing in a low posture as if crawling on the floor, danced, leaving a trail of black and white magic.

Her hand, accelerated by magic, rushed towards Rail at a speed too fast to follow with the eyes.

Head, neck, solar plexus, navel, groin.

Stabbing a row of vital points in the very center of the human body almost simultaneously.

Her technique, which causes infection by magic to spread from there to the entire body, cannot be avoided by ordinary people in the first place.

The effect is the essence of her specialty, the manipulation of the body through magic.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that she has entrusted the power over life and death to her.

Riomes was, after all, a woman who differed from normal humans in that she unhesitatingly used a technique that could control not only life, but also the bodies of enemies commensurate with it.

However.

If you were to say that, Rail also avoided the situation in that he was a being far from a normal human by making an unpleasant face in front of her and warding off all of Riomes’s attacks with a single gesture as if swatting a fly, covering his body with a layer of powerful magic.

The magic boasted a density as if it had physical force.

It stuck to her finger in a sticky way and absorbed magic and life force from there again.

Each time, the blue jewel of the Soul Capture attached to her hand emitted an ominous light, making its own existence known to the surroundings.

It was not the labyrinth that was the essence of absorbing magic from Aruru, but the power of the dangerous forbidden magical tool `Soul Capture` owned by Rail.

Riomes tries to shake off Rail’s magic that sticks to her like a leech.

But she couldn’t easily escape his magic with that alone.

Rail easily pushes her away and puts on a relaxed smile.

But what must not be forgotten is that he is not the only one here with powers that transcend human limitations.

In the next moment, the image of a death god is caught in Rail’s eyes.

An existence standing behind him, emitting a hideous murderous intent.

The existence that had been in front of him, aiming for his neck together with Riomes until just now, had moved behind him by leaping through a short space.

The noise created by distorting space flows through Kleon’s body.

[Kleon is in front of Rail]

“Distortion.”

[Kleon is behind Rail]

The power of another Demon Swordsman, which distorts the very concept, is manifested in his body.

Originally, Galatea’s magic control assistance would be required, but the way to incapacitate Rail in one blow is still to catch him off guard.

Some of Kleon’s internal organs scream due to the excessive use of power.

It would be impossible to use it continuously like Rubella.

The only sound coming from Kleon’s mouth was the sound of breathing as he poured all his concentration into his whole body.

A single flash of light poured in boiling magic to the point where a faint smoke like mist was emitted from his mouth.

The moment Rail’s head reflexively turned to Kleon, the red sword moved straight towards his neck.

Kleon’s blow, which reached the realm of sword saint, which cannot be dealt with by magic defense alone.

However, as Rail muttered something, a wall rose up from the floor and protected his body.

Kleon tries to cut down the wall, made of the same material as the walls of the labyrinth that move as if they were alive, together with Rail.

And he easily cuts the wall as if cutting butter with a hot knife.

Rail moves his body backwards along with the floor through that gap, somehow avoiding having his head cut off.

The spurting blood was a shallow but certain sword wound created by Kleon’s sword that passed his neck as it grazed him, due to not being able to avoid it completely. Unfortunately, it seemed that only the outer skin was cut.

Rail brings his hand to his neck as if to check if his neck is properly attached.

And he was looking at Kleon with a cold sweat.

“…Amazing. If you use all your power as a Demon Swordsman, such movements are possible.”

The impression was honest, and if he didn’t have some control over Ariadne, there was no way he could have done anything.

The shock was so great that the control of the fake Demon Sword Emperor was disrupted, and the movement of the puppet stopped.

But the corners of his lips were bitterly raised.

It was because he could see Kleon bleeding from his mouth due to the damage he had inflicted on himself after wielding the sword.

It is difficult to think that the ability to distort concepts or space can be used without any compensation.

Surely, even the Demon Swordsman Kleon would have that much risk.

Rail judged that such an attack would not be directed at him again if he judged that far, and became elated.

“I acknowledge your skills. The technique, the proficiency, too. It wouldn’t have been made in a day or two.”

He said that and made his puppet move again.

Something like black hands protruded from his sword, Pandora, and attacked Kleon and Riomes at the same time.

As countless hands reached out to them, the two took a desperate defensive stance to block them.

Looking at the Demon Sword Emperor wielding the Pandora itself at the same time.

How to overcome this situation was complicating their minds.

“But, it’s meaningless to me, who has the power of the Ariadne labyrinth and the Soul Capture.”

Saying that, he takes the Soul Capture to the labyrinth, where he absorbs magic and life force to heal his body.

If the Soul Capture is used on Ariadne, which is connected to the underground ley lines and has near-infinite magic.

He can also wield near-infinite magic. And life force.

`Life force-`

Somehow fending off the numerous tentacle-like attacks of Pandora that were being swung in front of them.

Kleon kicked the ground and ran to Riomes’s side.

Riomes and Kleon stand back to back, protecting each other.

“Riomes, the technique to increase mental sensitivity that you used before. Is it possible now?”

The magic barrier unfolded by Kleon somehow blocks Pandora’s black hand.

And, Riomes somehow deflects and brushes off the great sword that is being wielded through the gap, using a martial art-like boxing technique.

“Possible, but… It won’t work on that man.”

“It’s okay. The target is not Rail.”

When Kleon said that, Riomes looked a little doubtful.

Soon, she widens her eyes as she watches Kleon place his sword vertically and stab it into the ground.

“Don’t tell me-”

“That’s right, Ariadne looks like a building, but in reality, it’s a magical tool that is close to a living creature with a will.”

Seeing such words and actions of Kleon, Rail tells them with an expression like a sneer.

“What are you going to do now that you know that? Are you planning to kill the labyrinth and escape from here? It’s like an ant trying to kill an elephant.”

Looking at Rail, who has the complete winner’s composure, Kleon raised the corners of his lips.

“No, I’ll have to make you a little more sensitive. Riomes!”

“It’s close to gambling whether it’s possible…!”

In the next moment, Riomes stabs her hand into the gap created by Kleon.

At the same time, the waves of yin and yang magic spread in all directions-

The barrier that had been protecting them breaks down.

“Kugh!”

Kleon stands in front of her to block the attacks that are being concentrated on himself and Riomes with his own power.

The Demon Sword Emperor’s attack, which takes the form of a hand but is clearly a mass of magic, leaves wounds on Kleon’s body, no matter how much it is Kleon.

He tries to somehow respond by using Laila’s magic, but there was too much difference in numbers.

“It’s done…! But how do we get out of here-”

As Riomes’s voice rises, Kleon turns his head towards Tina.

“Tina! Talk to Ariadne!”

“Yes, yes!?”

“What a useless act! She has already had almost all authority taken away by me!”

Denying Kleon’s efforts, Rail draws his sword and approaches as if to deliver the final blow to him.

But in the next moment.

“Ariadne…! Please, senior…! Protect him!”

As Tina’s voice echoed in the labyrinth, there was a wall rising up from the floor.

Just like Rail did earlier. The wall blocks the sword that Rail is wielding.

The illusion created by Ariadne – the Demon Sword Emperor, who can be said to be a puppet, also stops in his place.

Kaang-! Rail’s expression is filled with astonishment as he confirms that his sword has been blocked.

“I can’t believe it actually worked….”

Riomes speaks with a slightly unbelievable face, but she also had the corners of her lips raised.

“That’s ridiculous…. What did you do!”

As Rail, overwhelmed by rage, abandons his leisurely attitude so far.

Kleon answers.

“I let them have a conversation of the heart. You can’t interfere with things like that, you like to steal other people’s things.”

In the next moment, the ground shakes violently.

It was as if Ariadne was in chaos, trying to resist the conflicting wills.

Tina felt the shackles of the labyrinth that bound her feet disappear at that moment.

“Ariadne…? No…! Just a little more-”

It seemed that such will of the labyrinth was being conveyed to Tina, and she looked around in a hurry.

She runs towards where Kleon is.

“Senior! Ariadne is trying to take back control again!”

The moment Kleon hears those words, he tries to swing his sword at Rail.

This time, however, a wall rises up as if to create a barrier wall, dividing the space where the two are standing.

“It’s impossible unless we destroy that guy’s Soul Capture….”

Kleon clicks his tongue and looks at the wall that appeared in front of him.

In the meantime, Tina hesitated for a moment and then grabbed Kleon’s hand as if she had made up her mind.

“We have to retreat here once.”

“But-”

“Senior is the only person who can stand up against the Black Precept. If he regains control of Ariadne, he will try to fight again with infinite magic and life force on his back…. We are too unprepared to fight him here right now, I was too naive.”

Tina said in a self-reproachful way, and connects her will with Ariadne once again.

Riomes also nodded as if Tina’s story was correct.

“Ariadne! Send us and the other chiefs out of the labyrinth!”

As she shouted that, a large dimensional gate appeared that would swallow all three of them.

It must be an exit that can lead out of the labyrinth.

The three of them were about to throw themselves into that dimensional passage to get out of this place for now-

Rail’s hand, covered in blood, pierced through the wall that had been unfolded between Kleon and Rail and reached out and grabbed Tina’s hand.

“I won’t let go…! Demiurge!”

In the next moment, the power of Soul Capture covered Tina’s body.

As Tina was overcome with a sense of being torn apart from her body along with intense pain-

“Augh…! —-!!”

A scream that couldn’t become a sound rang out, and something was being pulled towards Rail’s hand.

But-

Rustle!

Kleon’s sword was swung along with the sound.

And Rail’s arm falls towards the ground.

Rail’s hand falls off Tina’s hand and falls to the ground.

However, Tina had already lost consciousness due to the shock and pain.

Without any time to check what kind of damage she had suffered exactly.

Kleon and Riomes were expelled from the labyrinth, engulfed in a flash of light that enveloped their entire body and mind.

Rail’s painful scream with his arm severed lingered in their ears until the very end.

001

“Kugh…”

Kleon barely gets out of the shock that shakes his whole body and gets up.

Looking around, he could see that they were not in the vacant lot where they were supposed to be.

A building he had never seen before – he could tell that he was inside a classroom somewhere.

Riomes also staggers and shakes her head, trying to regain her senses somehow.

Tina was still unconscious.

“This place is…”

“It’s not a vacant lot, judging from the interior, it seems to be an old-fashioned classroom that is not currently in use.”

Riomes quickly grasps the location they are in and approaches Tina to check her physical condition.

“…As expected, it seems that her soul was taken away when she was briefly caught in Soul Capture.”

“Is her life in danger?”

At Kleon’s question, Riomes nodded with a difficult face.

“Think of the soul as a balloon with a hole in it. Even if it’s a very small pinhole, the contents will eventually pour out through that hole.”

Kleon looked down at Tina for a moment and asked Riomes.

“Why do you trust Tina?”

Then Riomes blinks her eyes two or three times and looks up at Kleon.

“…Can I say that I believe in the true heart of a girl in love?”

“…I don’t understand.”

“I told you when I interrogated the executioners in the Faculty of Law prison before, right? I can see romantic feelings like love in people.”

“…Wasn’t that just something you said?”

At Kleon’s words, Riomes sticks out her tongue and winks.

“Let’s just say it’s a woman’s extremely developed sense. At least, I didn’t feel any intention of her trying to harm you at all.”

“… …”

“Let’s stop joking around here. Instructor Kleon. Please take off your clothes.”

“… Are you telling me to stop joking around?”

As Kleon sweats coldly, Riomes stares at him for a moment and then smiles.

“Because I’m not joking.”

“Can I hear the reason…?”

“I will take measures to prevent the soul from leaking any further, even temporarily, in Tina’s soul. It’s okay, interfering with human souls is also our Theology Department’s specialty.”

Kleon believed such words from Riomes and reluctantly takes off his clothes.

For a moment, the face of Laila, who might be looking for them, came to his mind.

But for some reason, the telepathy with her is not connected.

First, let’s save the girl in front of me.

Kleon was thinking that.