Chapter 106 - Volume 10 (1/2)

[Shizuku-chan!]

Along with the voice, before she noticed 10 shining barriers were created and protected her. And within those, there were also lights which cut in between Nia and Eri that bursted out! Should it have been called, barrier burst or something, it was a technique which makes the magical power contained within the barriers go out of control and bursts out light as well as letting loose the remains of the barrier.

[~!?]

Eri immediately covered her face with both of her arms but, she was blown back after flinching due to the bright light which caused her to lose her balance as the remains of the barrier rammed into her.

Nia who was holding down Shizuku was also similarly blown back. Although she immediately got back up to try and restrain Shizuku, before that, a rope of light grew out from the ground and bounded her.

Shizuku was completely dumbfounded at the current situation and turned towards the voice which called out her name.

And from within the gaps of the knights who were surrounding them, she caught the appearance of her best friend which shouldn’t have been here. It was not an illusion. Kaori was definitely looking at Shizuku with a grief expression. Surely with the sight of Shizuku and everyone elses tragic state, being able to just barely make it in time has allowed her eyes to loosen up in relief.

[Ka, Kaori……]

[Shizuku-chan! Wait for a bit! I’ll help you right away!]

Kaori’s voice sounded out desperately towards Shizuku and them who were surrounded by soldiers as she appeared from the entrance of the plaza. Then, she quickly started chanting full-heal recovery magic. It was the first-class recovery magic of the light system, “Sacred Text”. From her classmate’s current state and the situation, she judged that she should quickly heal all members.

[~!? Why are you here! You guys sure are set on getting in my way!]

Eri gave out orders to the knights as her face distorted in anger. The knights all attacked Kaori together in order to stop her chant.

However, Kaori was not hurt, the swords that the knights were wielding were stopped by a barrier of light.

[Everyone! What exactly happened! Return to your senses! Eri! What exactly does this mean!?]

Having protected Kaori who was chanting the first-class recovery magic, Ririana soon appeared right behind Kaori. A sphere-like barrier wrapped around Kaori and herself in order to defend themselves.

Ririana was extremely confused as the situation was that the knights and soldiers were trying to kill Kouki and them and they were also following Eri’s commands. While placing up the barrier she called out to question Eri. However Eri wasn’t listening at all.

Ririana’s techniques were definitely of the higher class. Being able to cover an entire caravan in a barrier and holding out against the attacks of over 40 bandits. That’s why, even if the knights delivered severe attacks with their limiters removed, it was definitely capable of holding out until Kaori’s chant was finished.

And, because Eri understood that, her expression showed impatience.

[Chi, it can’t be helped I guess?]

Was it because of impatience? Eri gave up on turning her classmates into puppets and decided to kill them all off before they were healed.

Then, at that time, suddenly before Ririana’s eyes, one of the knights who brandished his sword against the barrier was beheaded and collapsed onto the ground.

The one who appeared behind the fallen knight was……Daisuke Hiyama.

[Shirasaki! Princess Ririana! Are you alright!]

[Hiyama-san? With such an awful wound, you-!?]

Ririana’s face turned pale as she saw Hiyama’s state. Although her chant wasn’t interrupted, Kaori’s eyes also opened up widely. That was to be expected as Hiyama’s chest was drenched in blood. No matter how you looked at it, he had desperately and recklessly tried to escape from his restraints.

He shook violently and staggered, Ririana quickly removed part of the barrier and allowed Hiyama who had his hand placed on the barrier, inside. With a thump, Hiyama fell down. However in that moment, Shizuku’s impatient shout resounded out.

[Don’t! Get away from him!]

She warned them desperately while vomiting out blood. Shizuku had noticed. Why was only Hiyama able to break out of the restraints when even Kouki couldn’t and who was the person that Eri talked about who wanted Kaori…….It was clear that Ririana’s barrier would stay in place until Kaori’s chant was finished. Despite all that, the only person who would pretend to help out…..

[Kya~aa!?]

[Agu~u!?]

Shizuku’s warning was not on time.

Ririana’s barrier disappeared, what was seen there was the appearance of Ririana who was embracing Kaori’s back closely had been knocked down onto the ground and a sword ran through Kaori’s chest.

[Kaoriiii–!]

Shizuku’s scream echoed out.

With an crazed look in his eyes, Hiyama had embraced Kaori’s back closely with his face buried onto her neck. What was in his hands behind Kaori was obviously a sword which pierced through her heart.

Hiyama was never injured in the first place. He had been pretending while preparing in the case that Kouki’s explosive powers as the hero allows him to break free. And though he was surprised at Kaori’s and Ririana’s appearance, he judged that at the rate things were going, Kouki and them would get healed and decided to act.

[Hihi~, finally, I’ve finally obtained it. …..As expected, I’m better than Nagumo? Yeah, that’s right? Na~a, Shirasa….no, Kaori? Na~a? Gihi~, oi, Nakamura, hurry up already. The contract]

Eri shrugged her shoulders towards Hiyama’s words. And in order to place “Bind Soul” onto Kaori she approached.

Right afterwards, a scream resounded out.

[Gaa~aaaa! You guys–!!]

Kouki was. Desperately trying to break out of the restraints even as his body creaked as his anger was at his boiling point. He had thought that Kaori had been killed and seems to have lost himself. The cracks on the 5 magic sealing shackles began to gradually grow larger. It was extraordinary strength. However, it was still not enough to be released from the knight’s restraints.

Then, as Hiyama relaxed as he saw that, a low muttered voice could be heard in his ear. If you looked, it was Kaori who was muttering even after receiving a fatal wound. Hiyama became anxious and brought his ear closer to her mouth. And what he heard was……

[———–at…the…end of….the…year, I…smile…”Sacred…Text”]

Even with a mortal wound, she completed the first-class magic. Kaori’s magic was casted through will power. Hiyama’s eyes were opened wide in astonishment.

Kaori herself should have realized that a fatal wound was inflicted onto her. Despite it all, till the last breath what she muttered were not cries of lament, nor calling out the name of a precious person…..she decided to fight.

Kaori had thought about it. He, the person who she fell for, no matter the situation and no matter the opponent, he fought without giving up. If so then, she who wished to stand next to him could not expose such ungracefulness. And with barely any consciousness left, with just her strong desires to finish chanting the magic, it has definitely been completed in exchange for her life.

Ripples of light began to spread out from Kaori. In the blink of an eye it ran throughout the plaza and resulted as a powerful heal for those that were injured. The swords were being pushed out by the healing light. For some reason the puppet’s movements also became more dull.

Naturally, the light of healing also affected Kaori, though the wound was being healed, the injury that Kaori received was through a vital place unlike the others. Moreover, as the wound was closing up Hiyama frantically gouged into her wound and she wasn’t healed at all. With that, Kaori was certain to die.

[Ahhhhhhh!!]

Kouki’s scream gushed out.

With his body healed he could perform at his best, with that the shackles that were already cracked were all destroyed as if they were fragile things. At the same time, pure-white light radiated intensely from his body, expressing his anger. With the intense torrent of light, Kouki had raised his stats by a magnitude of 5. It was the final derivation of “Limit Breakthrough”, “Supremacy Dispersal”.

[I’ll never…..forgive you guys!]

Although the knights were trying to restrain Kouki, Kouki easily snatches the sword of the knight which stabbed him and easily cut the puppet into two. Then, held out his hand to retrieve his sacred sword which was taken from him, the sacred sword rotated throughout the air and flew into Kouki’s hand.

Eri was expressionless, puppet soldiers were rushing at him but Kouki easily cut them into two. He shouldn’t be able to overcome the feelings of murder. However, right now with the intense fury of losing a comrade, he recognized that his opponents were already dead so there was no hesitation in his sword.

On the other hand, the front-lines group gathered around the other classmates and the fight to protect the stay-behind group began. No matter how many they took down they were still surrounded once again by puppet soldiers, there was also no time to remove the magic sealing shackles so their fight was based purely on physical strength. Ryutaro and Nagayama literally became a meat wall, they desperately tried to protect the stay-behind group which were trembling.

Shizuku desperately attempted to get to Kaori’s place with a tearful expression. However, just like Ryutaro and them she was still in shackles, waves of puppet soldiers attacked and she wasn’t able to easily advance ahead.

At that time, Kouki had finally beaten the puppet soldiers which surrounded him. With an angered look, Kouki glared angrily at Hiyama and Eri and quickly advanced.

But, there, Eri’s trump card which took advantage of Kouki’s weak point appeared. As a result, just as Eri predicted, Kouki’s sword stopped.

Kouki called out towards that trump card in a shaking voice.

[It, it can’t be…..even…Meld-san…..]

Right, the reason why Kouki’s sword stopped in its place was because it was Meld Roginsu, leader of the knights.

[……Kouki…why, are you pointing your sword at me…I didn’t teach you such things…]

[Na~…Meld-san…..I]

[Kouki! Don’t listen! Meld-san has already-!]

Shizuku’s voice scolded at Kouki who was shaken. When he regained his senses, Meld’s sword was already approaching. Immediately he used his sacred sword to receive the blow. Along with the terrific shockwave, Kouki legs shook*probably wrong but I think it’s somewhat close? ????????????*. It appears that the kingdom’s strongest knight has had his limiter removed.

[……Meld-san……I’m sorry!]

Although Kouki’s expression twisted in sorrow, he swung his sacred sword in intense waves towards Meld. Even while dead, Meld’s swordsmanship was still great, he barely managed to get by Kouki’s attacks while he used “Supremacy Dispersal”. Because of Meld’s appearance, Kouki’s boiling head had cooled down a little, his sword attacks which ignored feelings of murder began to dull. However, even still Meld shouldn’t be able to beat the current Kouki, finally Meld’s sword was flung away.

Kouki instantly closed in and side swept at Meld’s neck with his sacred sword.

But, before the sacred sword dug into Meld’s neck,

[……..Help me…..Kouki]

[~!?]

Kouki’s sword stopped unintentionally after hearing Meld’s words. Even though it might be impossible, maybe, Meld might not have actually been killed and is only being manipulated? Isn’t it still possible to help him? He was unable to throw away such thoughts.

This was Kouki’s weak point. In short, it was half-heartedness. If you’re going to help, then help. If you’re going to kill, then kill. You can choose either one but resolution and determination are needed. Kouki had none of that. Based on the information presented to him, a convenient interpretation of the situation occured. That’s why, though he usually doesn’t doubt his righteousness, he loses himself at the most crucial times.

Meld used his foot to bounce up the knights sword which was on the ground. In an instant with the hand which gripped the sword, he once again crossed swords with Kouki. However, Kouki didn’t have the overwhelming drive from awhile ago, rather Meld was the one who was pushing.

[~!? Gaha~!]

After somehow managing through Meld’s attacks, Kouki’s body lost its strength and his knees gave out. It was not due to the time limit of “Supremacy Dispersal”. That much time hasn’t passed by yet. The incident didn’t stop with just that, finally he even began to vomit out loads of blood. The blood soaked into the ground and Kouki’s confusion increased greatly.

[Fuu~, it’s finally kicking in. It was quite the strong poison….as expected of Kouki-san. If I didn’t prepare Meld-san I would have lost]

Towards Eri’s relaxed voice, Kouki desperately tried to support up his body with a questionable expression.

[Kufufu, with the cause of the prince kissing the princess, if the princess kisses the prince he’ll fall into a slumber (Killed) and become hers…..there’s that kind of development as well right? Ma~a, even I have some preparations in case of emergencies~]

With those words Kouki had realised. The kiss that Eri gave him in the beginning. In that moment, she likely made both of them take in poison. Eri herself may have taken the antidote earlier. He never would have thought that he’d be fed poison through mouth-to-mouth. Let alone being able to imagine what someone in love would do. Kouki once again was reminded of the fact that the Eri that everyone had known was nowhere to be seen.

With the poisons effects, Kouki was completely unable to move, Eri laughed out satisfyingly and then turned around to walk towards Kaori once again. Because soon the time limit for “Bind Soul” will be over. Hiyama demanded Eri with an ogre-like form.

Kaori was dead and about to be defiled. With that Kouki and Shizuku were both furious with anger, and with a regretting expression Shizuku was about to charge straight in.

However, Eri had already placed her hand over Kaori. Eri began chanting the spell. After several tens of seconds, the Kaori puppet which will obey all of Hiyama’s words will be completed. Shizuku and their expressions flared up in anger, Hiyama was laughing loudly, and Eri was smiling with a smirk.

Then……a voice which betrayed the battlefield that was filled with despair and betrayal sounded out.

[…….What the heck is going on?]

It was the boy with white hair and an eyepatch, Hajime Nagumo’s voice.

Towards Hajime’s appearance, as if time stopped, everyone’s movements ceased. This was because Hajime’s ferocious pressure was being emitted.

Normally the puppet soldiers which had no emotions shouldn’t have stopped due to Hajime’s pressure being released but, Eri who was their spiritualist was overwhelmed by the natural feeling of the weak instinctively concealing themselves as the strong came around which in turn caused the puppet soldiers to also do the same.

Hajime was completely unphased at the hundreds of eyes gazing at him and he began to check out the surrounding circumstances. A large amount of soldiers and knights were attacking his classmates, his classmates were grouped up and formed a circle, Meld was in front of Kouki who was on the ground and vomiting out blood, pounding her knee with a black katana in one hand was Shizuku, Eri and Hiyama who became stiff, and……Hiyama while embracing onto Kaori was holding onto the sword which secured that Kaori’s life had ceased……

The moment he saw her appearance, an out-of-this-world terrifying presence instantly appeared at the plaza. As if insects were crawling throughout their entire body, inside it felt like their hearts were being clenched directly and left them uncomfortable, they trembled frightenly against the presence. The presence of overwhelming death. It was exactly like their blood had frozen. For an instant their bodies lost its temperature and the heavy murderous intent made them envision their deaths.

In an instant, Hajime’s appearance disappeared.

And Hajime who was moving at a pace which no one could comprehend had appeared besides Kaori with a roaring sound. The roaring sound was caused by Hiyama being flung back and ramming straight into the back wall of the plaza and destroying it. In an instant Hajime had kicked Hiyama in the chest and sent him flying without influencing Kaori at all.

Normally, one blow would be enough to cause Hiyama’s entire body to burst apart, however because he held back a bit it only caused numerous bones to break and damage to the internal organs. By now he should have fainted in the wall, once he wakes up again from the pain, the hell would likely once again begin.

Hajime held up Kaori with one arm and cleared her face of her hair. Then, with a loud voice he called out to his comrade.

[Teio! I’m counting on you!]

[~……Umu, leave it to me!]

[Shi, Shirasaki-san~!]

In response towards Hajime’s request, Teio quickly rushed over towards them. Aiko’s complexion changes as she also came towards Kaori’s side. Once Teio was handed Kaori by Hajime she quickly began chanting.

[Ahaha, it’s useless. She’s already dead. I would have never expected that you guys would be coming here…..no, the moment Kaori appeared I should have noticed. ……Un, it seems like it’s already over for Hiyama, I’ll give it to you? As long as you’re not hostile against me, I’ll bring Kaori back to life with magic for you. It wouldn’t be genuine but, she’ll stay pretty like now? It’s better than rotting right? Ne?]

Radiantly, Eri proposed her suggestion while sweating from her forehead. Disregarding Aiko whose eyes were opened up widely in astonishment by his side, Hajime abruptly got up. Eri who knew of Hajime’s strength, held out her hands as she clicked her tongue secretly while emphasizing that Kaori would just be rotting if left alone.

But, Hajime’s overflowing murderous intent wasn’t shaken one bit, expressionlessly like wearing a Noh mask he slowly walked towards Eri.

[Wait, wait a bit, Nagumo. Come on, look at the surrounding people? There’s not much difference between them and the living? Although it can’t be helped that she’s dead, at the very least I could make her like them? Furthermore, I can create a Kaori that you like? For that you’ll absolutely need me…..]

Eri was rapidly speaking as she backed away.