Episode 26: Radiance
Barbat unleashed Wind Magic at the ground, filling the surrounding area with dust.
My vision was obscured, and I lost sight of Barbat.
I thought it was strange how readily he answered my questions from a certain point, but he must have been biding his time, looking for an opportunity to break free, or perhaps just stalling.
(Damn it! I completely let my guard down.)
I felt like cursing my lack of vigilance.
…Calm down, stay cool.
I instantly activated Magical Power Detection.
(This is bad.)
I sensed a rapidly approaching presence of Magical Power.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in my vision.
Just in the nick of time, I blocked Barbat’s sword attack with my pipe.
“Fuhahaha! Not bad, that reaction time!”
Barbat swung his sword two or three more times, then immediately retreated.
It would have been easier if he had just tucked his tail between his legs and ran.
I have more attack options at long range than in a close-quarters power struggle, so if he had run, I could have made him a target for Detection Magic and ranged attacks.
“Is a noble playing at being an assassin?”
“Fuhahaha! You’re not wrong. But I won’t let my guard down again. I’ll kill you for sure!”
It’s troublesome if he’s going to stick to hit-and-run tactics.
Should I obliterate the area where Barbat’s presence is with magic?
As I thought that and brought my right hand forward, I realized.
“You can’t use magic with that, can you?”
“Tch, clever trick.”
The Military Officials were in my line of fire.
I see, I have no choice but to give up on dealing with him using magic.
(Should I aim for a counter?)
But it feels like he’s already figured out my attack range.
He retreats the instant he thinks he can land a hit, which is a little frustrating.
He uses dirty tricks like obscuring my vision, and accurately targets my weaknesses, Barbat must have a lot of combat experience.
(As I thought, choosing to eliminate Barbat was the right decision.)
It’s hard to imagine that there are many people of this level in the Naia Royal Family.
The only Stella-Class individual who could match Barbat’s strength would be my senior disciple, Uclean, who I used to train with.
If I can eliminate Barbat here, I should be able to reduce the damage Ortenos will suffer in the future.
However, as it is, there’s no decisive move.
(I have no choice, I’ll have to use that.)
I made the decision to play one of my trump cards.
I took out an Imperial Gold Coin from my pocket and held it tight.
Then, I poured a large amount of Magical Power into the Gold Coin and held it between my index and middle fingers.
Everything will be over the next time we make contact.
◇◇◇◇
(What the hell is that Brat (Shithead) doing?)
Amidst the swirling dust, I sensed the Brat (boy) gathering Magical Power.
But there was no sign of any magic being activated.
(Is it a bluff? …No, I’ll wait and see.)
I gathered my Magical Power and released Wind Magic towards the Brat (boy)’s feet.
It felt like a direct hit, but was it blocked by a “Shield”?
I’m still concerned about the Brat (boy) gathering Magical Power… but I don’t understand.
Should I run?
No, I can’t show my back to the Brat (boy).
My instincts told me so.
(—I have no choice but to kill him. If I don’t kill the Brat (boy) here, Naia is finished!)
I kicked off the ground with all my might and launched a sword attack at the Brat (boy).
Using the height difference, I slashed down from above, spun around and swung horizontally, then followed up with a series of attacks.
The Brat (boy)’s staff work was skillful.
(Damn it, he’s still blocking it? Not only does he have strength, but he also has skill?)
The Brat (boy)’s attacks are frightening, but once I get close, the long staff, which is difficult to handle, is at a disadvantage against a sword.
I judged that I could overwhelm him and added more attacks.
But at this point, I had already been lured in by the Brat (boy).
—An Imperial Gold Coin?
Suddenly, I saw an Imperial Gold Coin fall from the Brat (boy)’s right hand.
Incongruous in this place, it spun as it fell through the air.
The Brat (boy) took a step back and began to deploy a “Shield”.
(What is he doing?)
I couldn’t understand the Brat (boy)’s actions.
But the next moment, I understood his intention.
As soon as the Imperial Gold Coin (that thing) hit the ground and bounced, it emitted a dazzling light.
(A huge Magical Power reaction!? This is bad! A “Shield”!)
—The Imperial Gold Coin (that thing) unleashed a massive explosion with a deafening roar.
◇◇◇◇
“Cough, cough… Did I get him?”
I confirmed that the “Magical Power Bomb” had been successfully activated right in front of me.
It’s a magic that creates a powerful bomb by pouring special Magical Power into a substance with high Magical Power conductivity.
The explosion can be triggered at any time, and various conditions can be set.
This time, it turned into a suicide attack, but since I, with my high Magical Power resistance, activated a “Shield” as well, the damage was minor.
“Now, was I able to deal with Barbat?”
As the dust cleared, I saw a human foot sticking out from behind a rock.
The surrounding area was covered in blood, so he’s probably dead or seriously injured behind the rock.
I headed over there to check the body.
“A foot?”
What was there was not Barbat’s corpse, but—just a human foot.
Behind me, I heard a crash, like rubble collapsing.
(Damn it, it was a trap?)
I turned around and broke out in a cold sweat.
What I saw there was Barbat, covered in blood, with only one arm and one leg each, swinging his sword.
What tenacity, did he hide in the rubble to evade Magical Power Detection?
When it comes to this, I have no choice but to admire him, even though he’s my enemy.
“I got you!”
For the first time, I felt the presence of death.
Is this what they call a “running lantern”?
Barbat’s movements seemed extremely slow.
I was just unconsciously gathering an explosive amount of Magical Power.
And I poured the gathered Magical Power into the pipe.
Bluish streaks ran through the pipe, and a dazzling light, shimmering like a nebula, burst forth from the tip.
“Huh?”
To state the facts, it was simply that I was able to move faster due to the difference in physical performance.
I lowered my stance in a counterattack and simply swung the pipe horizontally.
That one blow severed Barbat’s Stella-Class body, Star Tool and all.
“Guh…”
With a thud, Barbat fell to the ground.
A tremendous amount of blood flowed from his bisected body.
Barbat will die if left as he is.
But, Stella-Class individuals can survive for a while due to the strength of their bodies.
I feel a little reluctant, but I decided to give him a final blow.
“Sorry, I decided to eliminate you here.”
“…So you were… a Demon Exterminator… Guh… But, this radiance is…”
With those words, Barbat left behind something that bothered me, and I—beheaded him.