Chapter 33: The Indomitable Spirit / They (Part 1)
As seen throughout my life in this other world, Yamada the Holy Knight has had terrible luck. If it were possible to quantify the various status attributes in this world, my luck would be in a dismal state, a sight so grim that it would be unbearable to behold.
Yet, despite being a person with such abysmal luck, I managed to conquer seven of the Newly Constructed Ultimate Labyrinths and was on the verge of overcoming the Sealed Labyrinth. There were reasons for this. First, the Holy Knight class and the growth skills I possessed were incredibly powerful. Additionally, I had endured hellish training and faced countless battles against stronger foes, gaining the strength to overcome all manner of adversity.
However, that wasn’t the only reason I had come this far. Above all, I possessed courage. Once I made up my mind, I would never bend; I had the indomitable spirit of steel.
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The spirit clone of Sena, known as Shikifu Sena, took the brunt of the attack for me, transforming into particles of light.
“Well, Holy Knight, it seems you are alone again.”
My heart was filled with hatred for the corpse before me, and the sorrow of losing her—though she was merely a spirit clone—due to my actions. Yet, more than that, anger at my own inadequacy tormented me.
But as if to comfort me, the particles of light, unlike the previous spirit, did not vanish but instead were drawn into me.
—It’s okay, Ichiro.
I felt her warmth, her heart.
—I will help you.
I heard Sena’s voice speaking to me within my heart—at that moment,
“W-what is this—”
It was the sensation of absorbing Qi, something I had barely managed to achieve during the battle against the Liquid Dragon.
“I’m not alone. I always have her with me.”
I had more than enough Mana. If the opponent was too fast for me to react, I could continuously accelerate my thoughts using Autobahn. Was it a heavy burden? I could endure it. That’s how I had always done things until now.
“Have you lost your mind from fear, Holy Knight? Save your nonsense for hell—Hmph!!”
Ainika, the One Who Loathes All Life, unleashed a rapid series of strikes with fierce determination. To me, who had engaged constant acceleration mode, it appeared slow. I accelerated my arm, effortlessly deflecting all attacks, and countered with a swift strike to the abdomen, cleaving her in two.
Whether it was a reflex or a cry of agony, I let out a “Ugh!” It didn’t matter. She would revive anyway, but I had obliterated her with Light Magic.
“You’ll just come back, right? Then I’ll do this as many times as it takes when that happens.”
Last time, it had taken me one thousand eighty attempts. With the abilities Ainika had gained, how many times would she need to fall before she was completely obliterated? I had no way of knowing, but I steeled myself. I had to see Sena and Sensei again, and I had to discuss things with them.
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A few minutes after Ichiro was dragged into some space, Holy Knight Nelly and the Kingdom’s Order of Knights finally arrived.
Many had lost consciousness from Ainika’s malice, collapsing on the ground, but Orphelia and the others pushed the responsibility of caring for them onto the reinforcements and borrowed a horse for transportation. After placing Angelica and Pulmy, who had exhausted their strength during the battle with the Three-Headed Dragon, on the horse, they immediately returned to the town.
Rushing to the Guild, they contacted Anon using the Communication Orb to relay the situation. The usually calm and collected Anon was in a state of disarray, taking several minutes to regain his composure.
When Pulmy asked him, “Is Lady Omi here?” he replied that she had just returned to the town, carrying the three of them.
The cause of the Sword Saint’s unconsciousness was likely fatigue and the shock of recalling everything, but recovering Ashley, who had been on the brink of death, and the Saintesses, who had actually lost their lives once, was quite a challenge for Sensei, and they had just managed to take a break.
“Just hearing about it, I have no idea what we should do. This is not something we can handle alone.”
There was a note of despair in Anon’s voice.
“It can’t be helped. Anon, go wake Lady Omi.”
What should we do to help Ichiro?—Everyone present lamented their own inadequacies. Just as Anon nodded and was about to stand up, saying, “Please wait a moment,”
“I see the situation isn’t looking too good, huh? No worries, now that I’m here, the problem is as good as solved. Now, tell me what’s happened.”
A reassuring voice came from the Communication Orb connected from Skruld to Bordaf.