Volume 2
Finale Part 2
An immense magic power enveloped the Francilt mansion.
The magic that filled
the surroundings enveloped Nozomu and the others, and a powerful drowsiness
assaulted them.
"Tch! Gkh!"
Nozomu heightened his
Ki throughout his body, repelling the magic power, and the drowsiness instantly
receded. Looking around, he saw that the scenery outside the window had also
changed color.
"W-what in the
world is this?"
Somia asked her sister
with an anxious voice.
"Probably a
barrier spell... The effect is..."
A barrier spell was a
type of formation magic. By drawing a magic formation imbued with magic power
on the ground or at a starting point, it created a continuous effect within a
certain range.
It had a long
duration, and depending on how it was used, it could maintain a favorable state
for a long time. However, it generally took time to set up the formation, so it
was a magic that required very strategic deployment.
It also had the
characteristic that the wider the effective range, the more the duration and
effect decreased.
Looking at Mars and
the others, Mars, Irisdina, and Tima seemed fine, but Ena was breathing
heavily, looking unwell.
"I sincerely
apologize for resorting to such rough methods so suddenly. However, this is
also part of the contract. In order to retrieve that treasure, I will have to
extract Lady Somia's soul."
Nozomu and the others
couldn't believe their ears at the words of the elderly gentleman named Rugato.
"...E-extract my
soul...? W-what does that mean?"
Somia asked Rugato in
a trembling voice. The expression on Irisdina's face next to her was also
severe.
From their
perspective, the elderly man before them was nothing more than a suspicious
person.
"It is exactly as
I say. A contract made 300 years ago. At that time, in order to resolve the
problems the Francilt family was facing, they sought the assistance of the
Wajiart family. One of the magic tools provided as assistance was the Eternal
Flame Furnace. And... this is the contract signed at that time."
Saying this, the
elderly gentleman took out an old piece of parchment from his chest and spread
it out so Nozomu and the others could see it. The paper clearly stated that the
Wajiart family would assist the Francilt family and, in exchange for providing
the magic tools they possessed, would receive a large sum of wealth and the
return of the Eternal Flame Furnace. Furthermore, the contract stated that in
order to ensure the contract was upheld, two armbands would be created as a
mark of contract guardianship, and if either family violated the contract, a
contract familiar would forcibly execute the contract. The signature area also
bore the family crest that only the head of the Francilt family was permitted
to use.
"Such a
thing………………"
"Onee-sama…………"
Understanding that the
contents of the contract were genuine, Irisdina and Somia were aghast.
"Then, I shall
complete the contract."
"W-wait!"
As Rugato said this
and took out a black orb from his chest, a sphere that seemed to embody a deep
abyss, he slowly raised it before him and began to imbue it with magic power.
The black orb pulsed
as magic power was poured into it. As it began to emit a black light, ripples
appeared on its surface, and at the same time, the armband on Somia's wrist
also emitted the same black light, vibrating minutely as if resonating with the
contract.
The next moment, black
light swelled from the armband, and a hooded figure emerged from the darkness.
The figure's
appearance could be described in a single word: Shinigami (Grim Reaper).
A tattered hood and a
skeletal frame beneath it. The areas where its eyes should have glowed red, and
it held a scythe as tall as itself, the symbol of the grim reaper, in its
hands.
"That is the
familiar who governs this contract. The overseer of the contract and the guide
of souls. This one will guide Lady Somia's soul."
"Eek,
kyaaaaa!"
As Rugato stored the
contract and the black orb in his chest and declared this, chains suddenly
emerged from beneath the reaper's hood and bound Somia. The reaper raised its
fittingly large scythe and was about to swing it down at her with force, but...
"I won't let
you!!"
Irisdina instantly
deployed magic. Black chains appeared in the air and captured the familiar.
Restraint magic,
"Chains of Dark Binding."
It was an
intermediate-level dark attribute spell, but what was most remarkable was its
speed of activation.
She had cast the spell
without the incantation or the drawing of a circle necessary for using magic.
"Ho, that
deployment speed. Instant deployment, huh?"
Ability, "Instant
Deployment."
Normally, when using
magic, it is necessary to raise one's magic power and perform external actions
such as drawing circles and incantations, but those with this ability can
activate magic without these processes.
However, that alone
seemed insufficient to capture this reaper. The chains binding the familiar
creaked and cracked countless times.
"Kuh!"
Irisdina drew the
rapier she had at her waist and lunged at the familiar, but the reaper quickly
destroyed the chains binding it. It swatted her away with the large scythe it
held and was about to strike Somia again...
"Guuh!
Tima!!"
"Yeah!"
However, the reaper
couldn't move.
Four magic circles of
different colors unfolded around the reaper, and a larger magic circle, using
them as vertices, stitched the reaper in place.
In the brief time Iris
had bought, Tima had finished her incantation and activated a more powerful
restraint spell.
The activated spell
was "Binding Array of Four Cycles."
Magic circles of the
four elements intertwined with each other, forming a complex magic circle that
completely trapped the familiar within its array.
"Ho, magnificent
magic. Each attribute circulates without repelling each other, forming an even
stronger binding array. I have lived a long time, but I have rarely seen a
human who can use magic of this caliber. Lady Irisdina's magic is also
splendid. To be able to restrain my familiar even temporarily with magic from
instant deployment, which is easily weakened depending on concentration."
Truly impressed,
Rugato's voice contained genuine praise for the two girls.
"However,
stopping the familiar will not solve the problem."
An intense magic power
welled up from Rugato. He had judged Irisdina and Tima as obstacles hindering
the execution of the contract and was moving to eliminate them.
Rugato extended his
left hand and drew a circle in the air with his index finger. Then, a magic
bullet was fired from the drawn magic circle and struck Tima's shoulder
directly.
***
"Kyaa!"
A shock ran through my
shoulder, and I almost fell, but I somehow managed to stand my ground. The
clothes where the magic bullet hit were torn, and blood was seeping out.
But I didn't care
about such injuries and just focused on maintaining the magic. If I lost
control of the magic, Somia-chan's life would be taken!
She's the younger
sister of my precious best friend, and a dear friend to me too.
Since childhood, I've
been gloomy, withdrawn, and unable to stand out.
The family of my first
friend, whom I made after being alone and friendless for so long.
I still remember.
Since my first year, my magic power had been noticed, and I stood out in my
class.
I myself was bad at
talking to people, and the distance between me and my classmates only grew...
At such a time, Ai
spoke to me and we became friends. We became close, and I also met Somia-chan.
Unlike the gloomy me,
both of them shone brightly. Ai was like the brightest star in the night sky,
guiding travelers. Somia-chan was like the sun illuminating the dark night.
Thanks to the two of
them, I was no longer alone.
"Still holding
on? You possess considerable mental fortitude."
Saying so, that old
man... Rugato-san's five fingers on his left hand drew five magic circles in
the air. It seemed he could draw one magic circle with each finger...
"I won't let
you!"
Ai said that and
lunged at the old man, but the old man drew four magic circles with his right
hand, two of them the same and the other two different. Could it be that even
the magic circles drawn by each finger could be changed...?
Two magic circles
released blood-red swords that flew towards Ai. The blood swords moved freely
in the air, attacking Ai and trying to stop her. Judging by the complex
movements of the fingers that drew the remaining two magic circles, it seemed
he was controlling the blood swords with those fingers.
Just as I thought
that, five magic bullets were fired from the five magic circles on his left
hand and struck my body directly.
"Ugh! Aah!
Kuh!"
My vision went white
from the intense pain, but even so, I didn't release my control over the magic.
My bitten lip tore,
and the taste of iron filled my mouth, but I bit down even harder.
I endured the pain of
the magic hitting my body with the pain of hurting myself.
Ai and Somia, the star
and the sun that had guided me.
With all my heart, I
continued to maintain the magic, not wanting to lose them. But when I sensed a
powerful magic power and looked over there, five magic bullets, even more
powerful than before, were being created and aimed at me.
Ai cast magic and
lunged to prevent it, but she was blocked by the magic released from the old
man's three fingers on his right hand and the blood swords controlled by his
two fingers.
The five magic bullets
from his left hand were fired, but I, who was fully occupied maintaining the
restraint magic, couldn't move from the spot. If I lost focus even for a
moment, I would release that familiar!
I braced myself and
glared at the approaching magic bullets. An unavoidable, sure-hit attack.
But the magic didn't
pierce my body. Just before it hit me, a shadow that had cut in knocked the
magic bullets away with a punch enveloped in wind.
***
When I came to my
senses, I realized I had cut into the line of fire of the magic that was about
to hit her, and had punched away the magic bullets with a fist enveloped in
wind.
"...Mars...
kun?"
Perhaps wondering why
I had intervened, she mumbled my name in a dazed voice.
…………At first, I didn't
like her. Even though she was A-rank, she was timid, always looking away from
people's faces, and didn't even have the energy to talk back to me, even though
I had acted in a way she should have disliked.
But the face she was
showing now clearly expressed her feelings. "I won't give up."
"...What are you
spacing out for? Focus on the magic. I'll deal with that old man's magic."
Without taking my eyes
off the old man, I declared my intention to her... to Tima.
I poured even more Ki
into both fists and took a stance.
Ki Technique,
"Wind Mass Palm."
A Ki Technique that
increases striking power by enveloping compressed wind around the fist. The
infused Ki further gathers wind, creating a wind mass visible to the naked eye.
"…………Yeah!
Please!"
A clear voice made my
lips involuntarily loosen into a slight smile.
"Nozomu, evacuate
Ena and bring our swords."
"Eh!"
We had left our swords
with the maids when we entered the mansion. As expected, the maids hadn't
allowed us to carry swords to someone's birthday party.
Ena had fallen asleep
due to the barrier magic the old man had deployed. If she stayed here, she
might get caught up in the fight.
"But I don't know
where they're stored!"
"The storage is
in the small room to the right of the mansion entrance! This key will get you
in!"
Irisdina threw a key
to Nozomu. It seemed to be the master key to this mansion.
Neither Nozomu nor I
had our weapons. Tima and Irisdina alone couldn't handle this old man. To break
through this situation, we also needed to join the fight.
"Got it! Leave it
to us!"
I confirmed with the
sound of his footsteps that Nozomu had left the room carrying Ena on his back,
and then I exhaled.
Facing the old man's
strength firsthand, my body, which had been unconsciously tense, relaxed
appropriately, and blood rushed through my entire body.
The old man in front
of me had easily dealt with two A-rank individuals. The aura emanating from him
was almost the same as that of Jihad Roundel, the strongest swordsman in the
academy.
His power was probably
S-rank.
"S-rank."
That was the title of
the strongest dozen or so people on this continent.
And that Dizart Empire
that he had mentioned.
That country had
almost no diplomatic relations with other countries but possessed tremendous
military power.
During the great
invasion ten years ago, they had supposedly repelled the magic beasts that had
invaded their country all by themselves.
Facing such a powerful
figure from such an absurd country, my feelings were uncontrollably rising.
"…………So, what's
the plan?"
"That familiar is
summoned by the black orb that Rugato has. Which means…………"
"The only way is
to do something about that black orb. And for that, we need to get to the old
man."
That old man was a
ridiculous guy who could control ten spells simultaneously. Ranged attacks with
our current magic or my Ki Techniques would be meaningless.
The only way out was
close combat.
"But getting
close won't be easy."
"Yeah, the
difference in the number of moves is too great."
So far, the magic he
had used was the basic magic "Magic Bullet," which simply gathered
and fired magic power. Judging by the fact that he used two fingers per blood
sword, he might use multiple fingers to cast higher-level magic, but even so,
the speed was insane.
"Even so, we'll
win!! Mars, I'm counting on you to protect Tima!"
"You got
it."
Irisdina declared.
Of course. I had no
intention of losing either. No matter who the opponent was!
We nodded at each
other and faced the old man. Our opponent was one of the top dozen strongest
people on this continent.
If we fought normally,
we would be easily defeated.
The old man spread his
arms wide. He looked like a self-proclaimed conductor of an orchestra.
We are certainly
weaker than you... but even so, we will win!!
With firm resolve, we
faced the powerful figure before us.
***
Nozomu raced down the
hallway, his own katana and Mars's sword in hand, hurrying back to the
battlefield. On the way, he thought about Rugato.
(Rugato-san is
probably on par with Master...)
He recalled his
master.
Though their paths
diverged in terms of magic and sword, Rugato-san possessed the unique aura of
power that his master had exuded.
And at the same time,
a certain conviction took root within him.
(Probably...
Irisdina-san and the others can't win...)
Having been by his
master's side more than anyone, having fought alongside her in life-or-death
battles, he knew. Comparing Rugato-san's strength to Irisdina-san and the
others, he immediately understood. They couldn't win in a direct confrontation.
Especially since they also had to restrain Rugato's familiar.
(I have to hurry!...
But can we win? Without using "that"...)
The first thing that
came to Nozomu's mind to win was releasing his ability suppression.
But the fear of the
immense power that lurked within his heart made him hesitate to do so,
preventing him from moving forward.
Being feared for the
released power, being looked at with terrified eyes, being called a
"monster!" and rejected.
Thinking about it made
his body tremble. Would he return to that dark, solitary place again?
Would he drag them
into the battle against those who would seek this power?
"Tch! Damn
it!!"
He hated his own
weakness for only ever running away. All he could do was quicken his pace as if
to deceive it.
***
"Guuh!
Gyaaaaaaaaah!!"
Mars continued to
deflect the storm of approaching magic bullets with his fists. Rugato
relentlessly bombarded Tima with magic bullets, but Mars, having stepped in
between them, was acting as a shield and blocking Rugato's magic.
However, even with Ki
enhancement, deflecting magic bullets with bare hands was no easy feat.
Moreover, even if it was basic magic, it was the magic of an S-rank powerhouse.
The skin on Mars's hands was already shredded, his fists were bloodied, and in
some places, white bone was visible.
Still, he swung his
fists. Each time, blood was scattered on the floor, creating a blood-red flower
garden on the white surface.
"Haaaaaaah!"
Irisdina was similarly
at a disadvantage. She hadn't sustained any visible injuries like Mars, but she
couldn't get close to him at all.
Rugato instantly
countered her instant-cast magic, quickly constructing multiple arrays with his
fingers. He activated magic at the same speed as her, neutralizing her attacks.
At the same time, he
also manipulated the blood swords, preventing her from approaching.
"Hah... hah...
hah!"
"Kuh...
Mars-kun... are... you alright?"
"Hah... hah...
Shut up. Focus on maintaining the magic... more than me..."
Tima spoke to him with
concern, but her own complexion was poor, and she looked as if she might
collapse at any moment.
(No wonder,
maintaining such high-level magic requires considerable magic power and
concentration.)
Tima's magic was an
extremely advanced spell that used four attributes simultaneously. Activating
and maintaining that magic required immense mental strength.
Furthermore, her body
had taken several hits from Rugato's magic bullets. She wasn't particularly
resilient. The wounds throbbed with pain, steadily but surely eroding her
concentration.
The three of them were
gradually pushed back, and finally, the limit was reached. Unable to completely
fend off the approaching magic bullets, Mars lost his footing, and another
magic bullet slammed into him.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!"
With a scream, Mars
was blown away and slammed into the wall.
"It seems it's
over."
"!!"
With Mars defeated,
there was no one to block Rugato's magic, and multiple magic bullets were fired
at Tima.
"Kyaaaaaaaaah!!"
She had no way to
avoid them, and the magic bullets struck her directly. She collapsed to the
floor as if her strings had been cut.
At the same time, the
"Binding Array of Four Cycles" that had been restraining the familiar
was shattered, and the reaper was released.
"Tima!
Mars-kun!"
"Guuh!"
"Tch...!"
Irisdina cried out,
but the two couldn't answer, only groaning.
"Kuh!"
She tried to rush to
Somia's side to stop the reaper, but a magic bullet that passed by her at high
speed stopped her in her tracks.
Rugato fired magic
bullets with his free left hand and controlled the blood swords with his right.
Irisdina was completely immobilized by the dense attack, which was incomparable
to what had come before.
The reaper stopped in
front of Somia and raised its large scythe. There was no one left to stop this
harbinger of death, and Somia's demise was certain.
"Somia!!!!"
"A-ah..."
The older sister
desperately called her younger sister's name, and the younger sister was
swallowed by the fear of death. The fate of these sisters was now sealed... or
so it should have been.
The moment the reaper
was about to swing down its scythe. Both of its arms, along with the scythe,
flew into the air.
"...Eh."
The thoughts of
everyone present stopped, and time seemed to freeze for a moment. Within that
time, a single shadow sped through.
The shadow quickly
charged at the reaper, its held blade gleaming, and unleashed a fatal blow.
Ki Technique,
"Phantom Void - Return -"
The extremely honed
slash bisected the reaper's body and shattered the armband that had been its
core into countless pieces.
The reaper, its core
destroyed, vanished like mist, and fragments of the shattered armband danced in
the surrounding air.
"Nozomu...
san?"
Somia murmured as if
to confirm.
Nozomu, without
answering Somia's question, faced Rugato.
(…………Master.
What…………should I do…………)
Still, without an
answer...
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