Episode 75: Onmyouji
““Execution! Execution! Execution! Execution! ExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecutionExecution!!!””
“Tch, damn!”
At the edge of the highway, deep within the thicket.
Beyond the overgrown weeds taller than a man.
First-rate warriors were locked in a deadly dance…
Kaede, brandishing her katana, parried attacks coming from both front and back almost simultaneously.
The speed, the sharpness, were terrifying.
I mean, think about it logically, how can you guard attacks coming from the front and back at the same time with just one sword? You’re way too strong.
…But she won’t last much longer.
“Ah!”
Snap.
The katana broke.
Well, yeah, Kaede was using her Magic Skill, ‘Penetration,’ to channel Magical Power into the blade.
By doing this, a mere steel rod becomes many times more durable than it looks.
But the same goes for her opponents.
They’re also first-rate warriors like Kaede, so they’re attacking with ‘Penetration’ as well.
If she keeps taking those hits, it’s only natural that her weapon will reach its limit.
And another thing, Kaede only brought one sword this time. She probably wasn’t expecting an encounter with first-rate warriors like this.
Originally, Kaede uses a Greatsword and a short sword in a two-sword style. She said the katana was a backup weapon for dealing with people.
Just so you know… you might think she’s underestimating the job, but that’s not it, okay?
In this remote country, swords are hard to come by. One katana is more expensive than Shio’s oversized Greatsword, like some Dragon-slaying weapon or something.
That’s why Kaede only brought one katana this time, thinking about cost-effectiveness. It’s not her fault.
““A chance!!!””
Whoa! Two Knights raised their blades!
A desperate situation, this is bad!
“Oraaaaa!!! I’ll be your opponent!!!”
“What?! This guy, suddenly!”
Uooooooo!!!
“I’ll protect Kaede!!!”
Smug face.
Three minutes later.
“Haa, haa, haa… This is impossible!”
I gave up.
Like I’ve been saying, these two Knights… the Hound Brigade, right? They’re like Royal Knights in our kingdom. In Strider’s ranking, they’re Class One, the strongest class.
My strength is, at best, on par with a regular Knight, around Class Two or Three in Strider’s ranking, so I can’t win normally.
And there are two of them…
Yeah, impossible!
“Dru-san, run!”
Ah, Kaede’s in front!
“Eii.”
“Nnkyaa?!”
I stuck my fingers into Kaede’s sword belt and pulled.
“I’ll do it.”
“B-But! Dru-san is…!”
“Yeah, Kaede.”
———”Could you pretend you didn’t see what I’m about to do?”
I threw away the broken short sword and held out the bent long staff.
“Ridiculous! Ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous, ridiculous!!! What can you do now!”
“Further resistance is futile! Futile futile futile futile! Just die quietly!”
The two Knights approach…
『הפעלת טכניקת המתנה(Standby Technique Activation)』
““Wh… ?!””
In an instant.
Shockwaves around me.
Pushing back the two Knights.
“Y-You! A Mage?!!!”
“A Mage not on record…! Be careful, Roldan-san!!!”
And, multi-chanting…
『ברק אוכל אדם(Man-Eating Lightning)』
『להבות מהשמיים(Flames from the Heavens)』
『חרב קסם של שלגים(Blizzard Demon Sword)』
The tip of the bent long staff exploded.
From there, a torrent of power overflowed.
A blue flame aura visible without using ‘Demon Sight’ or ‘Clairvoyance’! An unbelievable concentration of Magical Power!
What shot out was black lightning. Tearing apart everything radially, while scraping away at “space itself”!
Crimson, a sphere the color of blood darker than fire. It burst open… scattering a “rain of fire” with so much heat that sweat evaporates just by being here!
Deep-sea colored, “ice swords” numbering a hundred were born, indiscriminately slashing everything around!
““Aah…!””
…The two Knights.
Before they could even make a sound, their entire bodies, armor and all, were torn apart into pieces of flesh…
“I’m better at this than swords, you know.”
Saying that, I threw away the ruined long staff…
Turning around.
Kaede is safe.
“Kaede.”
“Eh…, A…!”
I reached out my hand to Kaede, who was sitting on the ground, and helped her up.
Then I pulled her close and hugged her.
“Thank you, you saved me.”
“I… It was I! It was I who was saved!!! Thank you, Dru-san!!!”
She hugged me back and kissed me. Favorability, check!
“Ah… keep this a secret from everyone, okay?”
“Yes, I will. That Dru-san is an ‘Onmyouji,’ I won’t tell anyone!”
Onmyouji… ah, you mean Yin-Yang Master?
If I remember correctly, that’s what they call Mages in Azuma Country…
For now, I tore off the Hounskull… the part covering the face of the Helm of the killed Knight, and put it in my tool bag.
“Sorry for making you fight so much, but we’re going to be busy from now on. We need to report to the Lord through the Guild.”
“Yes, I’ll report with you!”