Vol 2 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Chapter 6 - Strength Of The Ones Who Carry

Part 1

”Saionji! Hey! Can you hear me? Wake up, Saionji!”

Pushi+ng aside a piece of rubble Ouka dragged Usagi's out put her body down on the ground, then slapped her

She was breathing, there was no probles

As for injuries, a fractured left foot, a cut near her left eye They couldn't be called light injuries, but sustaining just this much injury was a miracle Fortunately, Ouka only dislocated her shoulder as well

”How's Usagi? Is she waking up?”

Ikaruga as on the bench ahead walked towards Ouka while dragging a gun case She was sitting on a bench with a pained expression, but she only suffered from the cloud of dust

”No good There's no response no ht be that her head received dae”

A worst case scenario crossed her rined

”Move aside for a sec”

Ikaruga pushed Ouka aside, and leaned towards Usagi's ear

And with her lips right next to Usagi's ear, she whispered

”Noo——, it's the useless sniper—— A sniper who always blunders when it counts Wake up you big breasted potato A bunny who's only good for her big boobs Shall you? Shall you? Or shall you not?”[1]

”Hey Suginami it's not time to play ar——”

After seeing that Ouka tried to stop Ikaruga but,

”Who's a useless sniper———!!!!”

Suddenly, with a loud sound Usagi jumped up completely fine

”I-iit hurts, hurts!! Wh- what is it? What happened?”

Usagi suffered fro around, raising a pained voice

Apparently she was alright Ouka was relieved, and so she switched attitudes immediately

”Explanations will coht to me”

Right after she told them that she heard a voice from the intercom, she pushed the button on it After that she clicked several more times, it connected a few seconds later

《”Hey hey Ouka, Looks like you're safe Daddy is happy to hear that”》

The one who connected was Sougetsu

《”How is it on your side? Is Kusanagi-kun working hard? Is the Sorcerer still alive?”》

”Chairman”

《”I also wanted to see it Whether he properly performs with Lapis or not, I'm kind of anxious about it Can you tell hi his body? Because the signal doesn't reach to where he is”》

”Chair to prosecute you”

Hearing Ouka's sudden stateetsu fell silent

《”prosecute? Me, Ouka will?”》

”Yes I investigated the ht”

《”Investigated? But isn't that ood, students like you shouldn't go to a cri a permission for that”》

Ouka ignored his preaching and continued indifferently

”I passed everything on the site through an analysis-filter, the exaic Using Blacksin facilities I analysed s result of the particle is weird no matter how you look at it”

《”hmm”》

”Nikaido Mari's ic power has the ancient attribute of 『Aurora』 However, the ancient attribute taken from the same samples before was 『Despair』”

Ouka narrowed her eyes, and continued to reveal the evidence in order to corner Sougetsu

”As you probably know, these attributes are not co『Aurora』 and 『Despair』 is scientifically speaking impossible What excuse will you make now?”

《””》

”In other words, the one who killed the 15th test platoon student that rushed in, was not Nikaido Mari This is the evidence that says it was an unjust arrest”

《”She's a witch, and a h to arrest her?”》

”Is ih to prosecute someone?”

《”Well then, let's hear it Who are you going to prosecute? I' on the top when it coe a someone like me?”》

”Then I will send a report to the Ethics Committee”

Hearing Ouka's words, Sougetsu fell silent again

”You have allowed the Hero other day to walk freely and you had the students enter the battle against hies on a witch, I think Committee will not stay silent”

Even when threatened, he laughed happily

As if he predicted it, he used a subdued tone of voice fro till end

”I see Ouka wants to do business with hter's in trouble huh? Fine, let's hear it, what kind of favor hter wants”

Saying it in an unthinkable, roundabout way, Sougetsu asked Ouka

She closed her eyes, and answered

”there's only one thing I want”

Her request surprised Sougetsu quite a bit

Without thinking, he laughed loudly

The first strike with their swords, was evenly matched

Takeru's diagonal cut to the shoulder and Haunted's thrust cancelled each other

A shock as born and the ground split up with a loud sound The impact of the blows had nullified each other

Takeru reversed the blade and atte momentum

——Take that!

He wasn't convinced, but he was positive as he tried to cut in a shape of half moon at Haunted's neck

However, his sword met enemy's blade set up for defence

Kishhiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

A unique sound ofeach other could be heard

Haunted's sword bent extreuarded his neck

The shape of the sword that Haunted was using was close to that of a rapier Its a slender, western sword that specializes in piercing Rapiers were originally used for duels and self-defence, they weren't made for combat

They are easily deformed, since there rather small It's compatibility should be the worst versus the current form of Mistilteinn which was one that specialized in slashi+ng Co it was impossible

If he tried such a thing, the sould surely break

However, The enemy's sword, Dáinsleif, was not broken nor cracked

Being pounded,loud noises one after another, Haunted's rapier kept bending one ti

”——How thoughtless Your attacks are too honest”

The next moment, Haunted subtracted his hand and parried Takeru's attack

But it was too violent to be called just a parry

The moether with his entire body

Takeru was bloay behind Haunted, unable to stop the momentum he crashed into the control tower's debris

Creating a gap by parrying and using eneainst them ordsmanshi+p basics However, Haunted's sword bent back which added repulsive force to the parry

The enemy's swordsmanshi+p was much better than what Takeru expected

《”Switching from a soft blade into a hard blade see Host, if you're against a Magical Heritage, please throay common sense of ordinary swords”》

”G-got it that guy's swordsmanshi+p isn't too bad either”

While spitting blood, Takeru rises up from the rubble

Haunted without showing the elegance western swords a distorted thrust

At the salittered for a moment

It wasn't reflecting light It eht by itself

《”Please be on your guard It seeer its intrinsic performance”》

Haunted tightly gripped the sword in his right hand, he raised his left hand to his face and gouged his own flesh with fingernails His canines peaked out from his open mouth and his teeth chattered

”Annnn dnhnhhgraaaaaaaah!”

He released a thrust at super speed

Takeru intuitively understood, that it could not be perceived visually

He triggered Magic-Sweeping SwordSoumatou, and the world slowed down

Even with this——it's fast!

Immediately after he rolled away, Haunted's thrust exploded

The control tower's rubble was blown off, resulting in a huge hole

”Lapis, block the hole in the lung with ar!”

《”It's possible, but it will cause intense pain Will you withsta——”》

”I can withstand pain! It's lack of air that's a problem!”

《”Understood”》

Right after Lapis confirmed it, the hole in Takeru's chest healed up with a pikipiki noise, it looked as if the armour eroded the body

”Ughgah”

Takeru was hit by a wave of tremendous pain

He could breathe again, but there was no time to rest

Haunted was co with another thrust

”Guh”

”Ihi ihihihihi! Kishi+shi+shi+shi+!!”

He hed

Even though he triggered Magic-Sweeping SwordSoumatou, its speed was extraordinary While Takeru avoided the pushed further and further back

”It see speed, but that kind of thing is easy forabout the human body! What a shame, Witch Hunter!”

”How dare you Sorcerer!”

”Don't think too highly of yourself for being able to accelerate without ic! You're mistaken if you think you can match a sorcerer because of that, how ridiculous!”

Being insulted, although he prevented blood froer could be seen in Takeru's expression

But there was so in his words His swordsmanshi+p wasn't just a bluff The accuracy and speed of his thrusts was faster than Takeru's

”Raahh——!”

Takeru moved forhile in pain, and he held out his sword to the side

Haunted avoided it by ju backwards

Got hioes on like this, he'll hit him with a counter-attack

Takeru tried to hit Haunted's chest by sliding at high speed

That moment

The space Takeru rammed into, was empty The moment Takeru jumped with his shoulder first

Suddenly, Takeru's right shoulder was torn up and started bleeding

”Guahh!!”

Not knohat happened, his body staggered to the left

Then, it was Takeru's left elbow that was torn up, blood started flowing the same way as his shoulder wound's

”Wh-what's happening nghh!”

Every tiered, Takeru's body was cut

Takeru rapidly drew back, and Haunted's form materialized suddenly

A gap was made between them, and he stood like that for a moment

”What is it? Aren't you coh spirits”

Haunted with space to spare, looked down on Takeru

With that gap, it was the first time Takeru felt uncomfortable

《”it can't be”》

”What's going on!”

《”Host I will paste the analysis-filter results into your retina”》

After he was told that by Lapis,Takeru's view turned slightly bluish

The thing that wasn't visible until now, became visible

Between Takeru and Haunted, soe quantities

”Looks like the intrinsic performance of Dáinsleif' is to have the residue of a thrust remain in the air after the thrust was made”

Takeru understood and clicked his tongue

Certainly, the place Takeru jumped at before was one that Haunted thrust at When he ith Mari, he jumped at invisible residual thrust

After being hit by the bonus slashes, the healing capabilities weren't there The wound on elbow and shoulder were still bleeding

”Oho! It's been exposed! It's a quite wonderful Relic Eater! I want it more and more!”

《””》

”Jealous, Nacht?”

《”I'll kill you”》

Hearing Haunted say so hilarious like that in er towards him

As if he felt Takeru was too weak for him, and his strike didn't come

《”it's quite an outstanding Magical Heritage It's intrinsic h to become a threat to me”》

Suddenly, Lapis said in his head

Usually monotone voice of Lapis, sounded a bit unusual

”Lapis?”

《”I hate it I deserve certain death for allowing my host to be hit by the residue of a thrust”》

Could it be, that she was in a bad mood

Lapis who of, was actually angry

《”Host, have you forgotten my performance?”》

”performance?”

《”I oods when it coic so to speak You can clear it all out”》

Lapis continued to advise Takeru

《”Also, there's a perfect solution against that e into any type of sword It will not o all limp anymore”》

She was displeased after all He caught on the points he was advised by Lapis

”A sword receiving the flow? I see!”

Takeru stood up and looked at Lapis apologetically

”Sorry for being such a stupid host”

《”The one who chose the Host is me The only one who can use , and Host co That's how the weapon and the owner are, is what I think”》

””

《”Please rely on my performance more”》

Incredibly surprised, he didn't think he would hear those words frohtly

”If that's the case——I'll rely on you with all I have!”

Declaring that with confidence, he charged at Haunted

He cleaved the residual thrusts, as he went straight at him

Haunted took a posture for intercepting with a smile on his face

Takeru released a single cut with his sword

”No tricks again”

Haunted received the bloith his sword again

gigigigigi, the rapier receiving his blow bent again, and by using the repulsive force of the attack Haunted tried to counter——at that moment

”——Lapis! Kodachi!”[2]

Takeru's nodachi changed it's shape in an instant

The blade of the nodachi that bended Haunted's sword abruptly disappeared

”?!”

The sword's body changed shape and shortened, disappearing The nodachi's blade was 150c After 90 cm of he blade disappeared, Haunted's sword lost the force that was pushi+ng it and a place to hit, fanning the air

And——a sound of slashi+ng could be heard

”Gugeh”

With his chest cut, Haunted stepped back

Despite being hit, he still had a smile on his face

”Ufu, ufufufu I see, you've put soht into it”

《”Using a shape change to nullify the parry how annoying, that azure one”》

A laughing Haunted, and a surprised Nacht

Takeru didn't stop He readied his sword

”Next! Two-handed sword!”

Sword changed it's shape again, fore two handed sword

Haunted wasn't an idiot He prepared his next residual slashes immediately

However, the residuals were useless against Lapis's blade They were not that scary when they could be seen

After slashi+ng one ti down the blade at Haunted

Haunted lowered his defense in advance, and poised to accoe

However, Takeru's blow slammed in, and cut fro shape

Intentionally using a decapitating strike without changing shape Although it was a simple feint, it was a blow that drew the most out of Lapis's characteristics

Tremendous amounts of blood spilled from Haunted's body

”Gebohhkuhahahahahaha! Not bad! It's gotten a bit more fun!”

As his sworn ene, Takeru felt his creepiness

Why he had ap The reason, has already appeared on Haunted's body

《”Host, eneh speed Follow up fast”》

”I won't let you recover!”

It was one-sided for Takeru from that moment onward

He changed the shape of his sword after every attack, and continuously dealt blows to the enemy

Uchigatana Claye Seiryuutou Shotel Kukri Ring Dagger Warabitetou [3]

There was no sword that's not included in Kusanagi style teachings Ever since the child was born, the art of swordsmanshi+p was imprinted in its body

Rotating his body, his sword danced wildly without stopping thehe overwhelms Haunted like a storm

It seemed like a very beautiful dance

Haunted's body kept getting cut to shreds, and its regeneration couldn't keep up

”Zweihander!”

The largest sword there was, an extra large two-handed sword, zweihander

Takeru raised it high up, to next swing it down on Haunted's brain

It will end with this And it will be a next step to Mari's salvation

With all of his heart and soul, Takeru hit the strongest blow fueled by his anger

——At that moment

”——Hihihii”

zugyuru

Below Haunted's feet, a shadow appeared

Out of the shadow, soether with thorns

”——Wha”

It was Yoshi+mizu Akira as supposed to be dead

Yoshi+ht at Takeru She had an unfocused face not knohat happened Why was she here, as Takeru in front of her, without knowing that

Takeru let go of the sword for a moment, and held Yoshi+mizu's chest

”Gyahaha, gyahahahaha! You really are so, to empathize with a clone!”

Haunted's loud laughter echoed

Even though he knew it now, it was too late The only thing he could do was to face away from Haunted as he held Yoshi+mizu

That's when he was slashed

Takeru's large back was torn up, and he was blown far away

”shitbastard”

As he cursed, a large amount of blood flowed from his back

Takeru could no longer move He confirmed Yoshmizu's clone's safety, and sank into the mountain of rubble

”Boy, this is what you call a fight It's not a place for playing fair and square You take advantage of psychology and emotions of the opponent, and cleverly land your blows You are too soft Even though the original of that girl has already left this world, you only helped a stupid doll Really, this is why hu That's why I love them, haha, uhiuhiihihihihihihihihi”

Haunted scooped up his hair while laughing loudly

Takeru tried to stand up as he listened to his laughter

《”Host, you're at your activity limit Any more and”》

”hardenthe wounds”

《”that's too reckless”》

”If I'm not reckless here all will be lost I won't save anything”

Takeru's heart reached her, and Lapis's plugged the wounds with armour in silence

However, no matter what, it seemed like Takeru already lost

Part 2

Mari saw everything

She saw Takeru fight desperately His figure struggling His strength She saw everything

Right now, Takeru was in ain

But Mari as well, wiped her tears and stood up froround

『”If you desire rede to blaic to save the people”』

Re Takeru's words The words carved into her heart, she remembered them

Her consciousness caht, once again lit up

the thing thatI can do

What she could do, there was only one thing

That was——ic

There was no other choice for Mari The ic she learned from the Chairman, is all that Mari had

Magic that heals wounds, ic that relieves the pain, ic intended for defence

The ic the Chair up

And the one she was taught the very last, attack ic

『”Listen Mari Use this ic only when you need to protect a person that's important to you”』

Mari betrayed those words, she hurt people Twice, she couldn't protect her promise

”But, I won't make any more mistakes”

She lifted her hand, and ai Haunted

”This time I'll save him”

To repay the people whom she couldn't save, it was the first step

In order to protect her iic

To save this person who burdens half of her sins, she'll use it

Device attached to Mari's neck, wasn't a norinally used, a type that causes an explosion In other words, it explodes in response to etsu, in case Mari tried to use ic or was taken away by Fantasy CultValhalla, put this collar on her Her losta noric of a witch as powerful as Mari was too costly It was unthinkable to use a normal one in such case

It was a gaer at cost of her own life, she illing to do it

In order not to involve Takeru, she couldn't use overly flashy ht line

There was enough ic power She reical circle was also perfect

She built the operative procedure in her head, envisioned the ic in her head, and completed the chant in her brain

She suppressed activation of it And finally, after she had everything she required,

Before the collar could explode, she'll prove that she can take Haunted down

”This will be my last spell!!”

She opened her eyes in order to shoot her last spell

She concentrated on her fingertips, as if they were a gun

”Pierce him!! Sickle of Aurora『Aurora Bullet』 !”

At that moment, a supreht was released

A concentrated seven-coloured light

Ancient ic, Sickle of Aurora『Aurora Bullet』』

The unstoppable arrow of destruction flew straight at Haunted's head——

——Just before he was pierced, Haunted lit up and dodged it

”Isn't that a terrible surprise, Mari-san? It's no wonder if you'll get exposed if you release thatintent”

Haunted sently

Combat experience, is what he meant That was the crucial difference between Mari and Haunted In addition to that he had the sa SwordSou to him

That's how her enemy was

Seeing him avoid it, Mari was at a loss for words, she clenched her teeth, chagrined

She gently closed her eyes, but the expected end did not come

”?”

She touched the collar to check It was certainly attached to her neck, but nothing in particular was happening

A questionwhy didn't the end come

”Don't worry——that collar will not explode”

A youthful voice sounded from behind

After she turned around, she saw a figure standing on top of the rubble

On top of the collapsed control tower's wall, there stood a girl with sunset-coloured hair that had a gun and a shi+eld made out of blue crystal

The girl was——Ootori Ouka, as their eyes met, Ouka leaped from the rubble and landed near Mari

”You why”

”I intimidated the chairman to release the explosion-type Gleipnir I used the false evidence that you were charged with”

Ouka said so Mari to stand in daze Why did that woh she hated her so much

”It's not for your sake I did it to help Kusanagi”

Ouka glared at Haunted and set up her shi+eld

”You told ic can also save people”

””

”In that case, show it to ic isn't there only to hurt people”

””

”If you don't, I will never acknowledge it”

”Husted

Mari opened her eyes hearing Ouka doht

Yeah this wo

What is she thinking? Who does she think she is? She suddenly appears, and asks her to use healinglike that? It can't do anything but hurt people? That's a horrible insult! Who does she think she is to come in like that without explanation? What the hell? Did she think she looked cool appearing by standing on top of the rubble? Is she an idiot?! It wasn't cool at all! I think it wasn't cool in the least I' to fawn over her just because she saved me from a pinch!

Thanks to the strange eative emotions like sadness were bloay

”What the, bossingyourself and want to rely on me, huh?”

”don't get full of yourself The one to release the collar in the first place was me”

”I-I didn't ask you to Also you told me it wasn't for my sake”

”Such an insolent i?”

”I want to help, and I will help him But I'm annoyed by your attitude!”

For soue

Even though they had the sanets

”Oh-ho! This time it's a quite pretty visitor That makes me really happy You really have beautiful hair I want to decorate my room with it”

Haunted declared eerily, as he walked towards them

Mari stopped bickering, and crouched with a hand on the ground