Part 2 (2/2)

To defeat Administrator and prove that it is a mistake! And for that exact, same reason...”

I glanced upwards and confirmed that my beloved sword wedged in the wall was final y reaching its limit. The tip would break or slip the next time Alice moves, no, the next time the wind decides to send a gust this way and we will likely crash down together.

26.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

”...I can't have you dying here!!”

Taking in a deep breath and putting it all into my abdomen, I gathered al of the energy I had left.

”-Uoooh!!”

All of my spirit surging out, I hauled up Alice who dangled off my left hand. A violent pain ran through the joints at my arms and shoulders, but I somehow brought Alice up to the same height, then shouted out with the rest of my strength.

”Get your sword through that seam...! I can't hold on anymore, please!”

I stared hard at Alice's much distorted face right beside me with a frantic look.

After an instant of silence, Alice moved her left arm and the Fragrant Olive Sword deeply stabbed its point into the gap between the marble with a sharp noise.

The black sword drew out from the stone wall's seam at nearly the same time and my left hand separated itself from Alice's hand as well, having lost its grip.

Amidst the panic shooting through me from head to toe, I fell down a long, long distance and ”Death” approached me in the end within my mind for an instant.

27.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

However, what I actually felt were only a moment of weightlessness and a sudden shock. Alice's right hand that flashed like lightning seized my coat's collar from the back.

After affirming that Alice's sword and arms were firmly supporting both of our weight, I let out a deep breath. My heart, beating at the rate of an alarm clock, gradually slowed down and I finally felt at ease.

I looked up at the one with whom I had traded places with, both physical y and mentally, in a mere one second in silence.

Appearing as though she was being tortured by the entire variety of contradictory emotions, the golden integrity knight had her teeth clenched together hard. Signs of the clenched hand holding me by the scruff of my neck slackening and tightening repeated over and over again right behind my neck.

I didn't know of anyone from the Underworld capable of hesitating in such a perilous situation aside from Eugeo. The rest of the humans-the artificial fluctlights were blindly loyal to their standards for good and evil, unfaltering over important choices. To say it in another manner, their important decisions were constantly made by something else, or someone else.

In other words, I could understand that a ”humanity”

exceeding many others from the Underworld hid itself in Integrity Knight Alice's psyche from this single incident.

28.

Chapter 10 - Integrity Knight Alice.

Especially so, considering the alterations the highest minister, Administrator, had committed on her soul.

I couldn't judge how much conflict there must be in Alice's mind. However, after several extremely long seconds, my body was easily pulled up to my previous height.

Unlike the girl, I had no need to hesitate. I immediately thrust the black sword into the marble's seam, even after all it had been through, and let out yet another deep breath.

The moment my stance stabilized, Alice drew back her right hand and even averted her face in a huff. Her voice, delivered by the wind, was feeble unlike its tone.

”...I wasn't helping you, I was merely returning the favor...

besides, I have yet to reach the conclusion with your swords.”

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