The Water God style has five secret techniques.
They are the ultimate techniques, devised by the first Water God.
If you can use three of them, you are called a Water God.
Throughout history, many who have mastered the Water God style have learned four techniques, But no one other than the first has mastered all five.
Water God Reida Liere was no exception; she had mastered three.
She is an old woman.
Her prime is long past; she is merely a withering existence.
And yet.
Why does she still bear the title of Water God?
She had served as the
She passed that position to the next generation and retired over a decade ago.
Why was she allowed to continue holding the title of Water God?
Was her talent exceptional?
That was certainly part of it.
Water God Reida was an undeniable genius.
Even compared to past Water Gods, she was second to none.
But, talent alone could not overcome the ravages of age.
Were there no other talented individuals?
Not at all.
Even now, several individuals have mastered three of the Water God style’s secret techniques.
But none of them sought to replace Reida as Water God.
They all said they were unworthy and left the position to Reida, settling for Water Emperor instead.
Why?
Because Water God Reida could use the two techniques said to be the most difficult among the five.
By combining those techniques, she could unleash a sixth, phantom-like secret technique.
‘Sword World of Deprivation’ From her stance, she could strike forward, backward, left, right, up, down.
No matter where her opponent was in any of the eight directions, she could cut them down.
If they moved even a step, she could react to that movement and slice everything away.
--- «No one should move. Not if you don’t want it to come to this.»
The first to move when Reida appeared was Almanfi of the ‘Radiance’ under Peregius.
He took her back in an instant… and the next moment, he was split in two.
His body did not remain; it dissolved into particles of light.
Next to move was also one of Peregius’s subordinates, Trophimos of the ‘Wave.’ He aimed only his hand at Reida, preparing to unleash something.
No, he had already unleashed it.
But Reida merely tilted her sword for an instant, and Trophimos was split in two as well.
He, too, dissolved into particles of light.
After that, the next to move was me. The instant I sent magic power into the ring on my finger, my wrist was severed.
No, it was about to be severed.
It was the prosthetic hand’s wrist that was cut off.
My real left arm was still intact.
But seeing my arm suddenly vanish, I couldn’t help but freeze.
Next to move was a high-ranking noble.
He tried to flee on his own, but the tendons in his legs were cut.
He let out a cry, but the next slash knocked him unconscious.
It was a warning shot.
The guards were unable to move.
Even
Ariel too.
Peregius too.
Peregius’s subordinates too.
Me too.
And many other guards.
Everyone was pinned in place by Reida.
Everyone realized that this entire room was within Reida’s range.
They understood that any action would result in instant death.
«…It seems no one is moving.
Well then, Aubert.»
The called Aubert was also frozen.
Even a swordsman of his caliber could not escape Reida’s pressure.
«W-what is it…?»
«Ariel, Peregius… and that slime, I suppose.
Hurry up and behead them.»
Only Aubert alone seemed capable of movement.
He looked at Reida with a bewildered expression.
«M-me, you say?»
«That’s right. Who else is going to do it?»
«But…»
Aubert glanced briefly towards Eris.
Reida saw this out of the corner of her eye, and spat with a fixed gaze.
«Having Eris as your opponent was your undoing, wasn’t it?
Whether ambushing in the forest or on the road at night, you half-assed everything.
Even a coward like you tries to act the part of a swordsman in front of your disciple.»
Reida’s posture remained unchanged, but her mouth was venomous.
«What exactly are you being paid all that money for?
Taking the title of North Emperor and a fat sum, only to lose your two fellow disciples.
And now you’re going to stand there twiddling your thumbs while your employer dies?»
«…»
«You’re supposed to be filthier than this, aren’t you?»
«…Indeed, that is so.»
Aubert moved.
He drew his sword with his right hand and began walking towards the raised platform of the party venue.
Towards Ariel.
This is bad.
What to do.
I can’t move.
What should I do.
Is this the Human God’s move?
With just one Water God present, it had come to this.
I had asked
I had asked briefly.
His answer was: «Move so it doesn’t come to this.»
If you find the Water God, flee beyond her line of sight before you even take a stance.
Forward, backward, down, up—any direction.
Move while you still can and escape.
That’s what I was told.
And now it’s come to this.
«…Ngh! What is this!?»
At that moment, the city guards who had been on duty burst into the room.
Armored knights.
No, that silver armor… trainee knights?
«D-discard your swords…!»
«Don’t move!»
Reida’s shout stopped the trainee knights in their tracks.
However, among them, one person ignored the warning and took several steps forward.
That person walked those few steps through the crushing pressure and removed their helmet.
The face revealed was one I recognized.
Water King Isolte Kruel.
Why is she here?
Today, of all days, there were supposed to be no knight guards in the palace.
Did Darius do this?
Did he station trainee knights here, anticipating this possibility?
Or was it just a coincidence?
«Master, why… what is the meaning of this?»
«Ah, Isolte…»
«To use a secret technique in a place like this…!»
«Alright, alright, I’ll explain. What is being carried out here today is the atrocity of Water God Reida and North Emperor Aubert.»
«Atro… city?»
Isolte frowned as Reida continued.
«The two conspired together… yes, let’s say they were hired by the Dragon Kingdom or something.
Blinded by a vast sum of money, they attempted to assassinate important figures of the kingdom.
After brutally murdering Ariel and several others, they happened to be cut down by you, the trainee knight who happened to be present.
Isolte Kruel becomes a hero, and the Water God style survives…»
Reida chuckled lightly and looked towards the First Prince.
«Hmm, isn’t that a fine storyline.
Maybe I should have become a writer…
I’ll be counting on you in that direction, boy Gravel.»
«What nonsense are you spouting, Master…!»
Isolte tried to take a step forward but stopped.
Probably because Reida’s killing intent had seized her.
«…Hurry up and do it, Aubert.»
«…»
«What’s wrong? Worried about the status of the North God style dropping?
Don’t be ridiculous. I’m cleaning up your mess. Don’t back out now—make up your mind.»
Aubert shook his head.
Then, re-gripping his sword, he turned to face Ariel.
But he shook his head again, as if hesitating.
He was wavering.
«What are you doing! Aubert! Kill Ariel quickly! And that tramp too!»
Darius shouted, unable to bear the sight any longer.
The tramp he referred to must be Tris.
Indeed, for Darius, it would be more convenient if both Ariel and Tris died.
If he left evidence, once Gravel became king, he could be framed.
«Don’t worry about the rest! I’ll handle it!»
At Darius’s shout, Aubert seemed to make up his mind.
With a slightly different look on his face than before, he turned towards Ariel.
Ah, this is bad.
This situation.
Isn’t it checkmate?
«Tch…»
Eris was about to move.
She was going to risk it all to escape Reida’s barrier.
«Eris, don’t.»
«But…»
«Please, don’t.»
«Then what should I do…?»
I didn’t want to see Eris die.
But what could I do?
What should I do?
I didn’t know.
What if we all moved at once?
No, that wouldn’t work.
That kind of technique couldn’t be broken so easily.
Besides, even if I could, the others were too far away.
What about Peregius?
He hadn’t moved the whole time.
No, he was just watching me with a bored expression.
His face seemed to be asking, «What are you going to do about this situation?»
Even though two of his subordinates had just died, not a trace of panic showed on his face.
Did he perhaps have some plan?
Should I rely on him?
No, there was no time.
Aubert was just about to lay his hands on Ariel.
There was no other choice.
I had to move.
Attack both Aubert and Reida simultaneously.
The magic to use would be ‘Lightning Strike.’ It would cause collateral damage, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Even if I couldn’t defeat them, Lightning Strike might at least incapacitate them.
Of course, the Water God style could deflect even magic, so the success rate was low…
«
Eris seemed to have sensed my intention. She twitched a finger and gave me a signal with her eyes.
If I’m going to die, I guess we’ll be together…
«…Ngh!»
Just then.
Something pierced through the core of my body.
«Th-this is…!»
Aubert shuddered violently and stopped moving.
Sweat burst from Reida’s forehead.
No, it wasn’t just the two of them.
Almost everyone present was starting to tremble uncontrollably.
They were held in place by Reida’s killing aura, but their faces were pale with terror.
That’s when I realized.
Ah, thank goodness…
The ring I used earlier must have channeled magic properly.
«Oh my, this is trouble… Darius, you went and said something unnecessary…»
«…W-what? What’s happening, what’s this cold feeling…!»
«Change of plans. Aubert, I hate to ask, but could you grab Darius and get out of here immediately?»
At Reida’s words, Aubert tilted his head.
«Why Darius? Not His Highness Gravel…»
«Well, even an old woman like me doesn’t forget a debt.»
Reida smiled faintly.
«Hurry! At this rate, friend and foe alike will be wiped out!»
At those words, Aubert considered for a moment, then nodded.
He grabbed Darius’s arm and began dragging his heavy body somewhere.
«This way.»
«U-uh… yes.»
Aubert left through a different entrance than the one the trainee knights had used.
No one could stop him.
They were all pinned by Reida, unable to move.
«…»
Silence descended over the scene.
«My, my, I wonder how far he’ll get. He might not even come this way first…»
«…Why?»
Someone asked.
It was Ariel.
Even facing death, her expression hadn’t changed.
She merely seemed curious why Reida was helping Darius.
I shared that curiosity.
«Oh, you’re a naggy bunch. It’s nothing unusual.»
Reida seemed amused.
«It’s a story from when I was still a young girl.
Hailed as a genius, I was an arrogant little thing, And I beat up a noble boy my age at the dojo… afterwards, I faced retaliation.
Surrounded by many, outnumbered and outmatched, I was beaten down in an instant.
They were about to cut off my hands—the life of any swordsman—and turn me into a living doll, when I was saved.
By a young noble of even higher standing than that one.»
…Huh?
That was Darius?
«After becoming Water King and being appointed sword instructor, When I tried to thank him, He had become a fat, twisted old man like this, with a warped sense of morality.
He didn’t even remember me…»
…
«Of course, I was disappointed.
Because I’d thought he was a righteous boy, albeit with a harsh face.
I’d even had those girlish thoughts—maybe if I met him again…»
Reida’s eyes were distant.
It even gave me the illusion that I might be able to move now.
«So, the young girl’s first love came to an end…
But well, my resentment didn’t go that far, so it balanced out with the debt of saving my life.»
Reida spoke.
In a short time, with few words.
She spoke as if confessing, about something no one seemed interested in.
«Honestly, I’d forgotten about it myself.
But on my way back to Asura, I had a sudden dream—a prophecy, you might say.
It said if I served the royal palace once more as Water God, I could repay that debt.»
The Human God.
And now, the man fighting against that Human God was heading this way.
A man running through the palace at incredible speed, radiating an overwhelming aura of misfortune.
Aubert was probably fleeing in the opposite direction from that man.
I didn’t have the ability to sense auras, but I somehow knew.
Aubert was a man sensitive to that kind of presence.
«It’s laughable, really. I’d long since forgotten about it…»
«…»
«But at this age, I started thinking.
Putting aside romantic feelings, and considering it with a clear mind, A debt of life hadn’t just balanced out—it remained, in full.»
Then Reida opened her eyes.
«…It seems he’s here.»
With a bang, the door opened.
The one who entered was a single man.
«Eek!?»
Everyone in the room was terrified at the sight.
Some wet themselves, some collapsed.
Or harbored hostility.
But nearly everyone shared a single thought: ‘We’re all going to be killed.’ Silver hair, golden eyes.
A man with a grim, terrifying expression.
Orsted stood there.
«It’s been a while. Have you come to deliver a final blow to this old woman before she dies?»
«That’s right. You’re the Human God’s apostle.»
«Apostle… Last time, you let me go because I wasn’t an apostle, didn’t you?
Oh dear, in the very end, I find myself fighting the most unexpected opponent.»
Orsted surveyed the room and headed straight for Reida.
There was no hesitation.
«‘Sword World of Deprivation.’»
Reida’s body flickered.
Her sword wouldn’t settle.
With every step Orsted took, golden sword flashes flew.
The sword flashes left afterimages, connecting Orsted and Reida with golden threads.
All the sword flashes were deflected.
Sparks scattered around Orsted.
He was deflecting those sword strikes with his bare hands.
One step, two steps, three steps.
As he drew closer, the number of sparks increased.
Yet Orsted did not stop.
In the blink of an eye, he moved in front of Reida.
«Die.»
And then, effortlessly.
Truly effortlessly, Reida’s chest was pierced.
By Orsted’s thrusting hand, Reida was pierced through.
And discarded like a rag doll.
«O-old woman!!!»
Isolte screamed, and the killing aura vanished.
But no one moved, as if time had stopped.
No one understood why this had happened.
Only terror held sway.
The feeling that they were next.
The first to move was, once again, Isolte.
She drew her sword and, with trembling legs, took a stance against Orsted.
«How could you… to Master…!»
«…»
Orsted, as if nothing had happened, vaulted from the terrace.
Isolte chased after him with quick steps, running towards the terrace.
«Lord Rudeus!»
Then, as if unfrozen from a spell, Ariel shouted.
«Please pursue Darius and Aubert! They must not be allowed to escape!»
At Ariel’s commanding words, time seemed to start again.
The nobles fled in panic, the guards following.
The three of us—Eris, Gulléne, and I—rushed out of the room to chase Darius.
«R-Rudy!? What happened!?»
Just then, Sylphie arrived, as if taking turns.
She didn’t seem to grasp the situation.
What to do, should I ask her to follow?
No, Isolte was still in the room.
She was staring blankly down from the terrace.
She seemed to have given up on chasing Orsted…
«Sylphie, protect Lady Ariel! Watch out for Isolte! We’re chasing Darius!»
«Got it!»
I decided to leave Sylphie and Luke as Ariel’s guards.
Making that snap decision, we rushed out of the room.
--- It wasn’t clear why Ariel had shouted to chase Darius.
Honestly, the flow of events in that room was already decided.
Couldn’t we just let Darius escape?
That thought probably came from having heard the Water God’s story earlier.
Ariel’s demand to chase him must have been for another reason.
She, like me, was a dog of the Dragon God.
If that was the case, she might have thought she couldn’t allow Darius, the Human God’s apostle, to escape.
We had to kill Darius.
That had been decided from the start.
«This way!»
Following Gulléne’s keen nose, we ran down the corridors.
Eris and Gulléne didn’t question Ariel’s words at all.
The enemy had fled, so they would chase him down and tear him apart.
With a ferocity that bordered on heroic, they charged steadily through the hallways.
There were few guards.
Not zero, but they seemed to be chasing someone else instead of us.
Hearing shouts of «He fled towards the royal palace!»
They were probably chasing Orsted.
«…I see them!»
Without any interference, we caught up in just a few minutes.
Darius, with his massive frame being supported by Aubert.
Gasping for breath as if near death, they were moving along the end of the corridor.
«…Tch!»
Aubert cast a sharp glance behind him and clicked his tongue once.
Supporting Darius as if carrying him, he ducked into a nearby room.
We immediately rushed into that room… and stopped.
There, a collapsed Darius and a sword-drawn Aubert were waiting.
«…G-gah!»
Darius, still on the ground, glared at me.
«H-how can such absurd things happen! This, this is wrong!»
«Indeed, Lord Darius. In a long life, such things can happen.
Now, perhaps you should compose yourself and use your head to escape this predicament?»
Aubert answered the sputtering Darius.
But Darius, his face beet red, retorted.
«I did as the God commanded! That I, who did so, am cornered like this—it cannot be!»
«…Oh my, how devout… Then at least, while catching your breath, pray for my victory, won’t you?»
Aubert scratched his cheek, then took a stance with his sword, wearing an expression that said «it can’t be helped.»
Facing us, it was the first time he took a proper stance.
And then, he declared his name.
«‘North Emperor’ Aubert Corbett.»
Eris drew her sword, holding it high, and Gulléne took an iai stance.
«‘Sword King’ Eris Boreas Greyrat.»
«Similarly, ‘Sword King’ Gulléne Dedoldia.»
Should I also declare my name?
As I hesitated, Darius suddenly pointed at Eris.
«That red hair! Boreas! You’re one of Boreas
At being pointed at, Eris scowled openly.
«…Not anymore.»
«I, I did Boreas a great favor!»
Ignoring Eris’s response, Darius shouted, saliva flying.
«Even when the Fittoa Region was destroyed, I gave money!»
…Now that he mentions it.
The funds for the Fittoa Region search party were provided by Darius, weren’t they?
I’d heard there were ulterior motives behind it.
But when put like that, I was a little weak.
Putting aside the benefactor’s ulterior motives, many people had been saved with that money.
«It has nothing to do with me!»
Eris dismissed him sharply.
As expected.
«I-I also helped James!»
James.
The head of the Boreas family, Eris’s uncle.
«I made him the head, and I’m the one who propped up Boreas when it was about to be crushed by the nobles’ all-out attack!»
That was rather irrelevant.
«Thanks to that, the reconstruction of the Fittoa Region is also progressing smoothly!»
No, no, don’t lie.
«I saw it on my way to the capital, and the Fittoa Region’s reconstruction doesn’t seem to have progressed at all.»
«Don’t speak with such a know-it-all attitude, you whelp!
If Boreas had been completely destroyed, the other lords would have carved up the Fittoa Region by now, And it would be even more desolate than it is now!»
When he put it like that, I supposed it could be so.
If that was the case…
The current situation, though reconstruction wasn’t advancing, was still better than the other routes?
«In that case, you should have helped Grandfather Sauros too…»
The words slipped out of my mouth.
But Darius’s complexion changed dramatically.
«Sauros!?
Don’t be absurd! What can that brute do, who can’t see reality!
A man who tried to use the Boreas family’s entire fortune to reconstruct the Fittoa Region without thinking of the consequences!»
«…»
It was a manly choice, I thought…
But, judging from what I’d just heard, it was a bad move.
If the family fell, in the end, the other lords would prey on it.
«I helped James, who came crying to me about that!
I had Sauros, who was pushing things forward recklessly, eliminated, And helped guide things so James could become head!
The reason the Boreas family still exists, The reason the Fittoa Region still exists, Is all because of my hand!
So help me! Just letting me go is enough!»
Ah…
That won’t do.
If you had Sauros eliminated…
Never mind me, those two wouldn’t stop.
«So, you’re Grandfather Sauros’s murderer.»
«I see, so that’s how it is.»
At Eris’s words, Gulléne nodded and bared her teeth as she took her sword stance.
«Then, I shall cut you down.»
«Eep!»
Darius let out a short scream, And Aubert sighed.
«Negotiations have broken down, haven’t they.»
And so, the final round began.
--- «Haa… haa…»
Perhaps Darius had also steeled himself.
He sat in a nearby chair and let out a deep breath.
His demeanor, which seemed so calm now, was a far cry from his earlier shouting.
«Aubert, can you win?»
«Hmm, two Sword Kings might be manageable, but that magician is troublesome.»
Aubert had Darius at his back, his sword pointed at us.
His expression was calm… or so one might say.
But his gaze was unfocused.
His eyes were darting about, looking this way and that—the term was «scattered gaze,» wasn’t it?
«……I know. The God said so too.»
«What did the God say?»
«He said the magician in the mouse-colored robe would kill me…
Of course, I believed him, pushed past everyone’s objections, destroyed the magic circle, and had you retreat to the capital—look where it got me.
I no longer believe him.»
So the Human God had been pulling strings behind the scenes too.
As Orsted said, the Human God seemed bad at chess.
He’d probably be thrilled if it were a musou-style game.
«Figure it out. That’s why I hired you. You’re good at fighting multiple opponents, aren’t you?»
«Understood… If I win, may I request a special reward?»
«Yes, as promised, take it.»
While they exchanged words—Aubert, as if resetting, turned to face us.
This time, head-on.
Seeing this, Eris and Gulléne deepened their stances.
«North God Style… ‘Red Ink.’»
«Graaaaah!»
«Uraaaaah!»
The instant Aubert uttered those words, Eris and Gulléne attacked.
But at that moment, I understood the meaning of ‘Red Ink.’ I had heard from Orsted what kind of technique it was.
The ground.
The red carpet laid on the floor.
Upon it, at some point unnoticed, had been scattered, red balls.
By the time I noticed, it was too late.
«Ah!»
«Ngh!?»
A loud explosion rang out beneath Eris and Gulléne’s feet.
The sticky liquid that splattered glued the soles of their feet to the carpet.
This technique, devised by a former North Saint who was a pharmacist, was an instant adhesive.
The process was complex, so I didn’t remember how it was made, but It burst upon strong impact, scattering its contents.
Its adhesive power was strong, and it had nailed Eris and Gulléne’s feet to the carpet.
«‘Water Flow’!»
I instinctively used water magic to wash their feet clean.
This adhesive was weak against water.
Upon contact with moisture, it instantly lost its gripping power.
But Eris and Gulléne had already lost their balance.
Their critical lunges were disrupted, but their trained, resilient legs tried to strike swords even from this compromised position.
It was too slow.
Aubert was already moving to his next action.
He was weaving between Eris and Gulléne.
Gulléne’s sword stopped.
Eris’s sword stopped.
Even if they were Sword God style practitioners, they couldn’t unleash their Light Blades with allies on Aubert’s other side.
«First, it’s you, Rudeus Greyrat.»
Aubert’s target was neither Eris nor Gulléne.
It was me.
<Two swords raised high in both hands swung down towards me> I could see it.
Thanks to the mock training with Eris, my foresight was clearly tracking Aubert’s sword.
Instinctively, I thrust my prosthetic hand into the sword’s path.
That took care of one.
The other, I blocked with my right hand while casting an ‘Earth Shield’ spell.
«North God Secret Technique… ‘Hazy Cross.’»
<Aubert’s hand blurred> Aubert tossed his swords into midair, bent his upper body forward, and reached for the single blade remaining at his waist.
I had seen it.
My foresight had captured that movement.
But by now, ‘Earth Shield’ had already covered my right hand, forming a buckler-like shape.
The shield, created to deflect Aubert’s slash, was extremely hard and heavy.
The weight refused to let me use my right hand for defense.
My left hand was already engaged in blocking Aubert’s sword.
The prosthetic hand, made of high magic power and heavy, was already missing from the wrist down, but it firmly caught Aubert’s blade.
Aubert, trying to draw his sword while lunging forward.
There was no way to evade.
Even if there was, it was already too late.
I decided to take the hit head-on.
I straightened my bent knee and leaped, blocking Aubert’s drawing strike with my left leg.
Something hot grazed my shin.
When I landed, my left leg buckled.
Kneeling on my right knee and checking the wound, my left shin had been severed, hanging by a single layer of skin.
The pain arrived a moment later.
«Igh!»
I gritted my teeth against the pain.
At the edge of my vision.
Eris was moving, Gulléne had also turned and was facing this way.
I wasn’t dead.
We had surrounded him, leaving Aubert no escape.
«…?»
No, something had moved in the distance.
What, had Aubert used another hidden technique?
No.
There was movement at the edge of my vision.
Darius had his right hand pointed this way.
«May the great blessing of flame be upon you where you seek—»
Eris and Gulléne had noticed.
Their actions were nearly opposite.
Eris moved to intercept Darius, while Gulléne moved between me and Darius, facing Aubert.
«—‘Fire Bullet.’»
From Darius’s hand, a mass of fire was launched.
Its power and speed were impeccable, a fireball with enough destructive force to kill a person.
«Hmph… guh!»
Eris slashed.
She cleaved the fireball in two.
But, at some point unnoticed.
Without me realizing, Aubert had thrown a kunai-like short sword that pierced her flank.
My focus returned.
Aubert was in the posture of having thrown the short sword at Eris, while taking Gulléne’s sword strike.
No.
He hadn’t blocked it.
Gulléne’s sword, cutting through his guard, bit into Aubert’s shoulder.
But shallowly.
It hadn’t severed anything.
«Hmph!»
«Graaah!»
Aubert backflipped away through the air, And the waiting Eris, who was at his landing spot, unleashed a slash.
But perhaps due to the kunai in her flank, Aubert easily deflected it.
«…»
This is bad, he’s creating distance.
I didn’t know why, but letting Aubert create distance was bad.
Why was it bad?
His techniques were diverse.
No, that wasn’t it.
My leg was cut, Eris’s running ability was questionable.
If, by some chance, Aubert escaped with Darius now…
Only Gulléne would be left.
That’s right.
I had to kill Darius.
I dropped the earth shield and aimed my staff—at Darius.
«Stone Cannonball!»
«!? Ooooh!»
The projectile flew at an incredible speed, but Aubert’s drawn sword deflected it.
But that was expected.
What I’d just launched wasn’t a normal stone cannonball.
«!?»
Where it was deflected.
The split stone cannonball exploded near Darius.
An arrangement of the stone cannonball I had developed when traveling the Demon Continent.
Named, Explosive Stone Cannonball.
«Gyaaaaaah!»
Stone shrapnel must have hit his eyes, as Darius clutched his face and crouched down.
«Ngh!?»
Aubert’s attention wavered.
«Draaagh!»
In that instant, Eris lunged.
A Light Blade.
«…!?»
Aubert… blocked this.
He held his sword horizontally, taking the blow on the thickest part of the blade.
But Eris’s sword easily tore through it and bit into Aubert’s arm.
Shallowly.
Perhaps due to her injury, the technique wasn’t perfect.
Eris’s sword cut off Aubert’s arm, but stopped near his side.
«Graaaah!»
Furthermore, Gulléne struck.
Having lost both arms, Aubert tried to evade this.
But a Light Blade from the Sword God style was not something that could be evaded.
It was their ultimate technique.
You could disrupt their footing, break their stance, or stand in a position where they couldn’t strike seriously.
You could prevent it through such prior efforts.
Aubert had been doing just that.
At the very end, he failed.
Gulléne’s perfect Light Blade entered his shoulder and exited his flank.
«…Magnificent.»
Aubert murmured one last time, then collapsed.
He lay still in a pool of blood.
For a moment he twitched, but the light had faded from his eyes.
…He was dead.
«…»
«Aaaah, my eyes, my eyes… Aubert! Do something! Aubert!»
Darius was still crouched, clutching his eyes and screaming.
Gulléne looked down at the crouching Darius, who had taken my Explosive Stone Cannonball.
«…»
Gulléne swung her sword in silence.
The splatter reached my cheek.
--- We left Darius’s body where it fell.
This was a prior agreement with Ariel.
Regardless of where he was killed, it would be better if Darius’s corpse remained.
There was a high chance Ariel would be questioned about it later, but more than that, the publicity of having killed Darius was greater.
Being happy about someone’s death… so this guy was hated too.
«Haa…»
A nasty guy was dead.
I had killed him.
The aftertaste was bad.
Even though I didn’t deliver the final blow, it didn’t matter.
Now, I felt it.
I had killed Darius.
I had killed the unarmed Darius, who was protecting Aubert, blinded him, and left him defenseless.
I hadn’t been able to feel it before, but this time, I did.
I didn’t know what the difference was.
Was it a matter of distance?
I didn’t know.
«Haa…»
I figured it was useless to think about it.
This was the path I had chosen.
Afterward, we moved to the adjacent room, and I used the King-Class healing magic scroll Orsted had given me to treat my injuries.
It truly deserved to be called King-Class. My severed leg was restored.
But perhaps because I’d lost so much blood, my body was cold.
Next was Eris.
She had watched my treatment with a pale face, but As soon as it was done, she immediately lifted her shirt.
Her alluring yet well-trained abdominals…
«…Huh?»
The wound in her flank was stained purple.
Poison.
Aubert’s kunai had been coated with poison.
«…»
I used Basic Antidote, then Intermediate Antidote.
Confirming they were ineffective, a cold sweat spread across my back.
But I quickly remembered Orsted’s words.
The poison Aubert used was of one type, and not lethal.
Furthermore, he also carried the antidote.
I immediately returned to the adjacent room and rummaged through Aubert’s corpse to obtain the antidote.
I had Eris drink it and also applied it to her wound.
Just in case, I should use some too, since I was also cut…
That was close.
If it had been a more potent poison, Eris would have died.
Thank goodness, truly…
«The ‘Hazy Cross’… you dodged it well.»
As I treated Eris’s flank, she murmured.
I hadn’t exactly dodged it…
Well, in the sense that it wasn’t a fatal wound, you could say I avoided it.
«It’s thanks to our mock battles with Eris. Seeing faster strikes allowed me to somehow avoid it.»
«I’ve never dodged it…»
Eris said, looking a little lonely.
Eris had learned the sword from Aubert.
She was probably remembering that time.
«Oh well.»
Eris shook her head lightly.
I envied that attitude of hers.
In any case.
Eris, Gulléne, and I were all unharmed.
A complete victory.
«Shall we head back then?»
«Let’s.»
«Yeah.»
We would return, triumphant.
--- When we returned to the party venue, an unexpected sight met our eyes.
«…Huh?»
Luke was holding a dagger to Ariel’s neck.
Pilemon was kneeling, and Sylphie was glaring at Luke with fury.
What was going on here?
Glancing at my confused expression, Luke opened his mouth.
He was speaking not to me, but to the confronting Sylphie.
«If you want Lady Ariel saved, kill Rudeus.»
To that question, Sylphie—