Vol 6 Chapter 6 (2/2)

When the sorcerers hurriedly retreated to the back, arhts have appeared have appeared frooons, those were thin power suits In their hands were swords of light created with ical power

The Alcheeable about swordsmanshi+p

There were a dozen of thethe swords in front of their chests

In front of the new threat, Takeru and Haunted——started laughing

”No way a sword——”

”——Is going to work on me is there!”

Takeru ju SwordSouical swordsht in front, and ignoring the arh him with a thorn

The two's ra the eneainst Takeru's speed and Haunted's immortality

Exploding debris, resounding screaic the two performed a mad sword dance

They cut down everyone who stood in their way, and at the end——they clashed squarely once again

Overlapping their swords, each of thelared at his sworn enemy

Heaps of corpses surrounded the other than those two

”bastard, what are trying to do! Cut this out and answer me!”

”The reason is simple! This is not where you should die, that's all!”

”Don't fuck around! There is no reason for you to keep me alive, there is no reason for you not to kill me!”

As Takeru raged, Haunted laughed evilly

”I rele, that wonderful defeat!”

”I remember it too! That shi+tty massacre from back then! That bitter victory!”

In response to Takeru's adamant attitude, Haunted's face loomed forward

”I reject you with everything I have Your shallow claims, your shallow salvation, your shallow hlife whenever I saw self-satisfied people like you, all that of those filthy bugs and their shallow beliefs have despaired in front of despair They all cried calling for help!”

”!”

”But you were different! Despite being shallow you stood up never giving up and broke me! You also confronted other threats than ave up!”

Haunted relayed his passion to Takeru with an ecstatic expression

”I've seen it all, your struggle! Kusanagi Orochi and Kurogane Hayato walk the path of co! To think a powerful existence like you still existed in this world! It's so thick! It will be ht to crush such thick salvation! You are my enemy——『Hope』!”

Afteraway Takeru's sword, Haunted looked into into his face with madness in his eyes

”That's why I will neevvverrrrrrrr allow you to drop dead in some place I don't know of or becoe the rematch with you unless it's in appropriate place, appropriate tiain appropriate power!”

”ghuu!”

”I'll say it frankly, without that you aren't coht now you are a small fry who can't be my opponent! Reclaim Mistiltein, only then ill face each other in a match!”

Haunted bloay Takeru's sith all his strength

Unable to ride on that flow, Takeru was bloay and crashed into the wall of a house

Even as he collapsed, he kept glaring at Haunted

Haunted turned his back towards hireat as possible he raised his left arm up

”Tell Mari-san that I'm sorry and can't meet her After all, she will surely come here”

””

”Now then——let's i Takeru”

A bubbling black swamp appeared under his feet, and Haunted's body slowly sank into it

Takeru was unable to stop him

Or rather than being unable to, he didn't even try

Right now I have no power to fight with that guy, he realized the obvious

His sword pierced the bricks on the ground and he roared into the sky It was a hu declaration of war He had his wounds healed, ended up being saved, and mocked that he's incomplete

The only thing Takeru had, his pride was hurt

Even though he knew that already, he was pointed that out exaggeratedly

Takeru was full of hatred He hated the ive Takeru's existence, Takeru could not allow that er

”Definitely! I'll definitely cut you down one day!”

In order to settle the score with his sworn eneraved the pain and conviction in his demon eyes

The sun was sinking and the sky was dyed with azure

Lapis is waiting I need to hurry

Takeru switched his attention immediately and ran into Eliza's mansion

Eliza's residence was in an underground space where West Side's pureblood faction was

Lapis was in there She was suspended, trapped inside of a semi-transparent cube-shaped space

It was exactly the saic Acade manufactured by Alcheet out of this barrier without a contractor

Lapis opened her eyes and froaze towards the purplish-red wo on the throne

”Hey I wonder if Magical Heritages see dreams?”

Suddenly, Eliza asked her a question Lapis once again, slowly closed her eyes

”I do not kno it is for other Magical Heritages, but at least I myself do see them They are not fantasies or desires, only memory of the past”

”Can it be for a clear reason like memory maintenance?”

”No, it's probably a way of reflecting upon the memory that have left a deep impression on me in the past 'Memories' is a correct expression”

Hearing that, Eliza burst into laughter

”Wait wait, an inorganic'deep i strange things your hearts, your ht?”

”The principle of souls dwelling inside of matter has not been clarified yet, but principles of soul dwelling inside of huical circuits are only infor apparatus It is the soul that's responsible for giving us a will In both case, there is no difference when it comes to the soul”

”Don't anic souls and our souls are the same”

”That does see is doht the same until just recently, I won't deny that”

Sh Eliza's cheek, she stood up and folded the western fan

”You see, I think that objects should stay objects After all, it's so created by huht? No one wants for souls to dwell in objects”

”that's wrong I know of at least two people ished for that Those two, have wanted me as I am”

”You as you are? An incredibly weird Magical Heritage no, I wonder if I should call you 『Sacred Treasure』?”

Eliza approached the cube and placed a hand on the wall in front with abandon

”Whether it's a Gods toy or a humans toy, it's all the sa your own toy talk is disgusting, is it not”

”are you scared? Scared that us Magical Heritages will rebel against you, that's what you think don't you? It's shallow thinking from third-rate SF novel”

Hearing that, Eliza's face distorted

She took out a silver knife from the cloth wrapped in the valley of her chest and pierced the cube

”Hey, do you knohat's this? Spirit silver, a knife e to the soul once you are pierced with this, I wonder what's going to happen?”

””

”It's fine if we try and see, but I'ive you a chance”

””

Eliza scraped off the outer shell of the cube with the knife's blade and sent a sidelong glance at Lapis

”Becoive your soul's existence”

””

”However, you are not allowed to speak a single word You will just respond toback All you will do is fulfil my wishes”

Eliza's request was in parallel with the attitude Lapis had previously She desired an instrument that only fulfilled her wishes There was no need for the contractor's will or feelings All she had to do is to fulfil the requests

As an object As a sword As a Magical Heritage As a Sacred Treasure

That's the correct way until just recently, Lapis thought like that

”then, what is your wish?”

”That's obvious isn't it, make witches the only race left in this world With support of your God Hunting form, it would be possible to destroy the world in just a few days right? After all, it's power that can even kill Gods!”

With sparkle in her eyes, she stroked the outer shell as if she was stroking Lapis cheek

”God Hunting for me you will only destroy yourself You are unable to handle me”

”Ara! You, despite sticking to your contractor's soul, I wonder why can't you feel anything as you look at me!”

Eliza slowly hid her face with the fan she held in her hand

When a sound si resounded, Eliza's hair has casually danced against the forces of gravity She vigorously folded her fan once again revealing her face

There was a change in Eliza's appearance

Her black pupils and whites had inverted colours Peeking fros She was paler than before and her skin was eerily cracked up That appearance was undeniably——

”I, am not a human A vampire a descendant of the race that was destroyed in the previous Witch Hunt War”

””

”Unlike your beloved ic power quality and quantity is also finest Don't you think I'm the best contractor for you, who produces a small amount?”

””

”How about it? Beco Your desire is to fulfill your contractor's wishes right? Grant ives your existence any value”

While da the outer shell with a knife, Eliza proceeded with her negotiations and intimidation

Of course, Lapis wasn't agitated in the slightest and just cast a cold gaze at Eliza

”My apologies, but since I do have the right to choose, I refuse”

”rightto choose, you said? I wonder what are you dissatisfied with”

”By using human representation I will make it easy to understand Firstly, your soul is not that of a varaded copy that beca born Even if you can fool people of the West Side, you cannot fool my analysis”

””

”Secondly, even if you are an outstanding witch, and even if your soul would be that of a real vampire, the difference between my Host's worth and yours is like heaven and earth”

””

”Thirdly, I genuinely hate you for insulting my Host Basically, your existence is not towith thick make-up even on her pitifully s to le up to your soul which has a putrid s covered in vomit and left inside sewers”

””

”For the above reasons, I refuse to be bound by a contract with you I used a vulgar representation to fit the level of your minuscule soul, but I ah I expect an age-appropriate response from an old woman like you”

After declaring, Lapis closed her eyes

She was expressionless and blunt, however in her eyes dwelled a firm will

”My Host——is Kusanagi Takeru-sama only If I am to be used by anyone other than that person, then I choose death”

In response to Lapis clear statement, unnoticed, Eliza erased her expressions

And,

”I see I get it Then”

She abruptly swung the spirit silver knife and pierced the cube

The moment her hair turned disheveled, new cracks appeared on Eliza's cheeks

”I don't need you any longer In the first place, I've been told by Senate's purebloods to destroy you I'm fine either way”

Her facial expressions and behaviour was cold, but Eliza's anger was like a bottomless pit

On top of having been pointed out that she isn't pureblooded despite being in the pureblood faction, she was denied by an inorganic existence There was no way she wouldn't be furious

A Magical Heritage without a contractor is powerless And without Takeru Lapis cannot confront the threats, without Lapis Takeru could only use a simple sword

Lapis herself didn't knohy have the Gods created weapons to kill their own kind She didn't knoeren't they able to exhibit power on their own and required a contract with the user

However, Lapis didn't think it was bothersome

She herself was happy to exist like this

Because that person is there, she exists Because that person desires it, she exists Although that definition re inside of Lapis' chest

For the first ti born happened, she felt happy

Therefore, Lapis didn't give up In order to take Takeru's hand once again, she didn't give up

She gazed forward In the direction her beloved Host was in Putting her feelings in, she continued to call hi 'I'm here'

”Noyou wait, your master won't appear you know? It's about tianic one”

”no”

In response to Eliza's words, Lapis shook her head

”My Host is already here”

Eliza laughed off what Lapis said

However,

”Don't touch my sword!”

It was a hoarse and distorted voice

With unwavering conviction and tenacity, it was a voice of soled

Eliza turned around vigorously, and clearly saw that figure in front of her eyes A boy as heavily bleeding A boy no different from an insect

However, the light dwelling in his eyes spoke of the strong person that won't give up on anything

Mistilltein's contractor, Kusanagi Takeru

One that carried a demon soul in human body, a mixed breed Eliza hated the most

The ht would disappear in a place she doesn't know of, stood in front of her She opened her eyes widely and dumbfounded she turned her body towards Takeru

”ara oh no a cockroach has made it this far I have to kill it and disinfect the place”

Takeru spat out a clot of blood from his mouth and wiped his mouth with a dirty sleeve

”Try it if you can cockroaches are tenacious”

”What arethere are insects in my mansion I need to call some people it's filthy”

”Sorry, but I'veis you, Granny”

He returned the sword to the sheath and glared at Eliza

”Oh no it's itchy insects are here it itches”

Eliza's appearance changed

The chapped skin on her face spread, and she started to scrape the cracks with her long nails After the make-up broke off, Eliza's face collapsed

What peeped out from below the crumbled parts, was a rotten purple meat

Apostle vampires were immortal, but without a true ancestor their flesh wouldn't stop rotting away No y, there was a li it In the modern times it was possible to embed only the cells in their body to increase its physical ability and make it semi-immortal, but it was impossible to perform that on an apostle as already an undead

Moreover, being a vaative effects

”Itches! Itches itches itchessssss!”

While scratching her face with, Eliza turned her black pupils towards Takeru

”It's your fault! It's because you insects it's because there are humans in this world I! ——I always have to taste this kind of blood-sucking urges!”

”So you're a vampire huh Then you can't live unless you drink huic powerto do after you destroy humans?”

”In the modern you can make any quantity of human blood! That's why there's no need for humans in flesh!+ If there's no hu to taste this kind of impulse! If there's no humans——I'll be able to remain beautiful forever!”

Eliza continued to scratch her skin while repeating ”itches” countless times

Looking at her condescending, Takeru shook his head and sighed

”How stupid in the end, your beauty is just papier-ic, what's underneath is still your real face right If you destroy things in order to protect such a thing, I won't tolerate it”

”Shut up, shut up shut up shut up!”

”Rather then covered in that heavy make-up, that rotten appearance of yours looks more beautiful to me”

Takeru unexpectedly said the sa as Haunted Eliza who scratched herself while repeating ”itches” finally exploded with anger

She shook her fan, and ical particles released a loud sound

”What do you know! What do you know about rief!”

”As if I knew I don't care about you Even if my soul is that of a dei Takeru I'm absolutely unable to sympathize with someone can only delay and hide herself!”

After denying and discarding Eliza's desires, Takeru turned towards Lapis A little bit uneasy, she was staring at Takeru That anxiety of hers has reached his heart

That's ith eyes full of confidence he relayed his feelings to her

”——Come! Lapis!”

He strongly outstretched his right hand and called his greatest partner Lapis opened her eyes wide, and responded along with releasing a hot breath

”Yes, Host!”

The bond between the two of the else, andbond

There was nothing that could stop the power born froe created to seal Sacred Treasures, it definitely wouldn't be able to stop it

The sealing cube that covered Lapis shattered instantly like glass

”——The latest sealing device?! This easily?!”

While Eliza was astonished, Lapis reached out to Takeru

After their hands overlapped, Takeru pulled her to hiirl to his chest

”I made you wait”

”No, there is no probleht that you will definitely come”

Lapis looked up at Takeru expressionlessly as usual

At her usual attitude, he laughed happily

After which, he glared at Eliza

”I have never really liked this chant but it's perfect for the current situation”

”I think so too”

”Let's subjugate her then——partner”

”Understood, Host”

Lapis' body turned into azure particles which floated around Takeru

When Takeru raised his hand in front, an azure-coloured ical circle appeared under his feet

Desiring with supreme ardor——”Summis desiderantes affectibus——”

Along with the faun

——The Hammer of Witches”——Malleus Maleficarum!”

The scattered particles turned into an armour which wrapped around Takeru's body

This feeling of his body being reborn froic

He shook his right hand strongly to the side, and squeezed his fist

What his fist was gripping, was his beloved fa Mistilteinn

Witch Hunter form, complete

《”Now——let's begin the witch hunt”》

”At once!”

Takeru held a sword and ran towards Eliza

”Mere hu of immortality! Very well, I'll have you realize why people call hty!”

”Don't get full of yourself you fake!”

He moved the sword to the side and rushed

Eliza in front of him shook the fan with abandon

In response to her move, pillars of flame appeared from the empty floor and approached Takeru

《”Annoying, avoid”》

As told to by Lapis, Takeru leaped up high in order to escape from the pillars

However, the pillars of fla towards Takeru in the sky

”!!”

When he was barely licked, Takeru twisted his body in the air and swung his sword

If it's Mistilteinn that has an outstanding anti-ree was soh,

”Double-Edged Style——Mantis Slope!”

Rotating forward, along with his fall he released a powerful blow

Eliza looked at Takeru'sher nails that extended long to cross with his sword, receiving the entirety of Takeru's blow

”Wha!”

”Don't loooookkkkk——downn on vampiressssssssssssssssss?!”

Along with a cry she released her claws and blew Takeru away

She had tre the shock, and poised his sword again

《”Those nails a Magical Heritage It see the attacks impact back at attacker to a certain extent Host's attack has been rendered powerless the moment it touched the nails”》

”Moreover, she moves pretty well”

《”Even rotten, she's still a vareat as Witch Hunter form's, it surpasses human's by far”》

Hearing Lapis' analysis, he strengthened his vigilance in close combat

In the round cavity, Eliza with her face full of cracks mocked Takeru

”I , and all you can is cut? I'm a witch you know? Do you understand?”

Eliza smiled leisurely, bent her hips and stroked the floor with her western fan

”cockroaches that enter people's houses need to be kicked out as soon as possible right——you two, have you forgotten you entered the tiger's den?”

Showing a glis from her mouth, Eliza's eyes were dyed black

Chills ran down Takeru's spine, and it happened iround space shook, it wasn't like an unexpected monster has appeared The walls and floors of the doround space suddenly lit up

It wasn't a siical circle

Filling walls and floors coical circles

”heyhey hey hey”

《”This is”》

Takeru displayed impatience, and Lapis too muttered it was beyond her expectations

《”Each of the ical circle hold a different property so this is 『All Talents』 ancient property”》

Before Lapis could speak, Eliza laughed loudly

”Even if you noticed there's nothing you can do right?!”

One esture of a queen, and then suddenly hit the floor with her heel

”——《Raging RequiemDies iræ》!”

The ht to their maximum

”Lapis! 《Grant of TwilightTwilight Enchantment!》

With an i Mistilteinn's intrinsic ic

Ie started

Every wall, floor, ceiling Froical circles carved in there, Fire, Water, Ice, Thunder, Earth, Wind, Darkness, Light, Holy, Unholy, Cut, Thrust, Strike

Magic of multiple properties assaulted Takeru

”!——damn ittt!”

Takeru fully expanded the Magic-Sweeping SwordSou

The ic poas sih speed However, the ical bullets Eliza released careater than normal

Moreover, each of thee the moment it landed

If it continues for long, Witch Hunting form won't hold out

It was iic bullets which touched the blade were absorbed, but other bullets fired at the same time could not

The ih Takeru's armour

”You sure are doing your best〜, I could watch this forever”

Eliza made a throne appear, sat down on it and fanned herself while looking from above

She was full of gaps in her defence, but Takeru couldn't afford to do so

《”Host, Grant of TwilightTwilight Enchanter”》

”I know! Once it expires just block them! Continue as you are now!”

After a short exchange, Takeru continued the mad dance

Eliza was leisurely watching it at first,

But seeing Takeru continue to block the ical bullets, she frowned

”thatcockroach and inorganic!”

She stood up from her throne and bit her nails

When she looked closely, she saw that Takeru's aric, a part of the absorbed a the are to Takeru himself

Moreover, Takeru'san enchantment

There was no backlash froic bullets when the absorption effect was activated, but the i the attacks Takeru took advantage of that iic-Sweeping SwordSoumatou's assistance Faster than eyes could chase after hies which made him look like he had clones

It continued for a long tie has ceased to come

The aftermath of the sword dance turned into wind and stroked dissatisfied Eliza's cheek

Takeru stood intact with a shi+ning blade in his hands

”Lapis”

《”Roger Enchantment reversal, flexible material release”》

Along with Lapis' instruction, the blade shi+ned even further

The azure particles went on rae

After absorption, ed like a tornado

”GOOOOoooooooooo!”

Closing the distance all at once, Takeru changed the sword into a giant greatsword and swung it down at Eliza's head who sat on the throne

Eliza didn't move She looked at Takeru's movements bored

The ical power almost reached her,

”《Last Stop's Reflecting MirrorAlice Mirror》”

Sitting on the throne and resting her cheek on her hands, Eliza spoke the ic name

An enoric that appeared between Takeru and Eliza released a shi+ne akin to that of a mirror

Protective h it as is!

Takeru did not bother with it and swung down his sword Magic swept down colliding with the eed mirror

”——?!”

However, the one sed by the wave of ic——was Takeru

The 『Twilight』 ic pohich hit the mirror directly assaulted his body

”Ga-ha——!”

The slash lost itsrepelled by the mirror and Takeru's body collapsed on the floor after being burned by azure-coloured flaround

《”That'sic powerwas repelled backwards?”》

Lapis' voice full of consternation echoed in his head

Takeru didn't let go of the sword, but he was unable to move until he catches a breath

”Good grief, what a let down I wondered what kind of property the faic”

Eliza rose up from the throne and moved up to where Takeru was

And tramped over his head with her heel

”khh”

”Just attacking by releasing previously absorbed ic we are using is evolving just like scientific technology Right now, just by using ht not be as effective against an opponent who uses a cooing in one direction is simple”

Eliza pressed her heel further, gouging out Takeru's cheek

”I can praise you for the aic power absorbed but unfortunately, I'm not an ordinary witch I'm an Ancient Wizard who survived more than a thousand years, the Chaire and ahty in every aspect that's why I'hty Witch』 you know?”

She raised her claws and licked thely

Neither Takeru nor Lapis