305 302. Hero.txt (1/2)

Deer's cry fills the underground space.

'---, ----, --' ------!

It's a demonic range that can drive you insane if you listen to it.

It's not dangerous because it's loud enough to break your eardrums. It's just that the unknown sound that doesn't exist in this world makes my head twist just listening to it.

To that voice that could be called a wide range magic, Rustyala responded with just words.

''--Dear!　It's so far away, I can't hear what they're saying!　That's how you really want to be a swordsman when all you do is magic at a distance!

His throat trembles to the limit and loudly agitates Dia in the sky.

Dia, who has been wandering in the air for a long time, is stimulated by the complex she has, and she reaffirms her earthly Lastiara. She stops screaming and mutters as she wavers and turns her eyes downward.

'La, Rastiara ......!　Why don't you run away ......!　Why do you think I--

'I'm here to make fun of you for looking like that and claiming to be a swordsman!　You're not a swordsman by any stretch of the imagination!　Now that!

”Oh, I'm a swordsman!　Ever since I was a little girl!　I always wanted to be a swordsman!　I decided to fight with this sword and live by it, and here we are!　And you, oh, you--!

Under provocation, Dia changed the shape of the magic power gushing from the tip of her lost right elbow into a sword.

She then flapped her wings of light that covered the entire ceiling and flew down to fall to Rustiala, who was directly below her.

Rustiala smiles lovingly at Dia, who is trying to get out of the safe zone herself and settle the matter with a sword instead of magic.

The innocence of Dia's being caught this way so honestly must be endearing.

''You're here, Dia!　As far as I can reach!

”I don't care where I am, I can't lose!　Even Rastiara will beat you with a sword!　I'll show you!　--I knew how to use a sword!　Let me see it!　Me too!

After landing on top of the building where Rastiara was, Dia swung the sword of light in his right arm in a frantic manner.　It was not a flattering swordline, but when wielded by a being with a status as high as Dia's, it would be a terrifying speed and power. Rustyala dodges it at the point where it is a paper-thin point.

Although Rustyala handled the sword using only his body technique, the increasing sharpness of the sword forced him to pick up the sword at his waist.

But he doesn't pull it out yet. With the belly of the sword in its sheath, I try to catch the flash that I can't dodge.

''--What?

However, he realized the failure of that defense.

If this was truly a sword-to-sword battle, it was a brilliant defense. However, Dia's sword is composed of magic power. It's also the magical sword of Dia's self-doubt.

The moment the sword's sheath and the sword of light came into contact, Dia's magic power that had been converging loosened - it burst.

The light that had been hardened like a blade diffused, and like a shotgun, it slipped through the protection of the sheath and ripped through Rustyala's skin.

''Huh, you're being cut even though you prevented it or ......!　What is this: ......!

'RASTIARAH--!

Rustiala laughs at Dia's unreasonable attack, and Dia yells out in excitement.

Immediately, Rastiara throws his sword sheath on the ground as well and steps forward.

He must have decided that it would be dangerous to seriously compete at sword distance like this. While snatching Dia's messy sword flashes at his torso, he forcefully enters from sword distance to clique distance.

Using his physical abilities, he grabbed Dia's left wrist and right two arms, which were not good at body arts.

''d*mn!　Let go of the--!

Dia put in a lot of effort to shake it off.

But Rustyala doesn't let go of her hand. And he doesn't move on to the next attack. She doesn't crush her opponent's arm or decide on an indirect, but chooses to 'discuss' face to face.

''Hey, Dia ....... Why do you want to be a swordsman ......?　Why do you go that far, ......?　Can you tell me, just for a moment, if you can: ......?

Why would I want to be a swordsman, ......?　Of course it is!　It's decided ......, it's decided--!

Dia tried to answer - and choked on her words in the middle.

It's a distorted expression, as if she was caught by Rastiara's question and remembered something she didn't want to remember.

And then he immediately throws a tantrum, screaming and kneading his magic in a messy manner.

''Ah, ah, bother!　Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up--!

If you think of it only in terms of physical techniques, this spacing is the distance of Rustyala.

However, Dia has magic. It also has enough magic power to instantly cause an explosion that can reach a lethal amount just by making the magic fail at random.

''--【Flame Arrow】!

The magic name was 《Flame Arrow》, but the effect was completely different.

Dia's dense magical power that had lost its place to go burst like a flashbulb between him and Rustyala. It would be the same kind of technique as the self-destructive warfare technique that Ryner had excelled at in the past. It was done on a scale dozens of times larger than Ryner's.

It's a power that Rastiara can't withstand.

Rastiara had no choice but to let go of his hand and run away.

Undoubtedly, Rastiara would flee as the magic was activated, but Dia believed--

What?

Dia is stunned.

She is surprised to see both arms still not moving at all, even after all those explosions.

Rustyala is still in front of her.

Dia looks at both of Rastiara's hands.

Her fingers are broken - not only that, but they are broken. About two fingers out of ten have been blown off and lost. The flesh has been gouged out and the bones are visible, but they are still clenched tightly together.

Rastiara did not take any evasive action.

He did not defend or evade, but chose to continue this face-to-face situation.

And Rustyala, who has half the skin on his cheek peeled off from the explosion earlier, tells Dia with a strong smile.

I'm sorry ......, but I'll never let you go.

Why do you want to go to ......?

Dia grunts and questions.

She doesn't know why she would go that far.

--I don't know either.

Rastiara doesn't show her pain and continues to talk with a smile on her face.

Without answering the questioned reason, he goes on to speak the rest of his persuasion as if there was no magical explosion.

'Actually, I already kind of know why Dia is so obsessed with the sword ....... We've chatted a lot since then, slept together, and taught her the sword in a friendly manner .......

'Rustyala, your hands are ....... And your face is .......

'You're obsessed with the sword - you were kicked out of the house when you were a kid because you couldn't handle it. You think so, don't you?

Leaving Dia in a state of bloodlust, Staggeringly, Rustyala stepped into Dia's heart with his earthly feet.

''Ya, stop!　Rastiara!　That's it. No more. Let go!　Now shut up!

Dia doesn't use her magic, but tries to swing her arms around and unwind.

It's a good idea to get away from Rustyala's sight right now, but Rustyala won't let go. It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about it.

But you already know that the reason was not right, don't you? You know that it's all because of the existence of the apostles. That's why I'm not obsessed with swords anymore. I'm not a fan of the iron sword, I'm a fan of the magic sword. It's ...... one way or the other.

Rustyala!　Let go of me, or I'll slash your arm!　With this sword!

The magic sword that Rustyala had just mentioned, Dia constructed it on her right arm.

Unlike the iron sword, it's a sword of transformative light. Naturally, it can be wielded even if both arms are held down. Even though we are in the middle of a battle, it's really easy to slash Rastiara, who is just talking without moving in front of us.

--No more holding back.

With a cornered expression, Dia threatened. But the reply remained the same.

''Dia seems to be refreshing, but she's actually an indecisive and sticky type. The homeland and the sword are both unwilling to let go of their hands because of their unrequited love for each other. In fact, don't you regret a little bit about the Sith Apostle, too?

............!

Dia's expression twisted into a distortion as Rustyala came to the core of the matter while bringing his bloodied face closer.

It was a sight that only Rustyala could see now that he was losing his mind.

He knows from experience that the words that can save someone who is truly suffering are a sincere call from the heart. But a call to abandon our defenses is insane.

In front of Rastiara, who could only be considered crazy, Dia had no choice but to let out a scream.

''Aaaaah, aaaaah, aaaaah--!　Annoying-- I said annoying!　I told you to run!　Why?　Why is Rastiara so bothered by me?　So much for me, so much for--!

With a scream, Dia moved the sword of light.

Dea, whose brakes would have been broken, is unable to stop the attack.

And then - again, Rustyala catches it.

The sword of light moved, changing shape like a living thing, and its blade plunged into Rustiala's right abdomen. Rastiara's smile deepens at the attack not to his declared arm, but to his stomach.

''Kook, ugh--!　I knew it was kind of you, Dear. You don't want her to have to go through the same thing in this situation: ....... Why do I care, because that's the kind of Dia I like.

No, I'm not nice. ......!　Your belly is more dangerous than your arm. ......!　You're going to die, Rastiaraa: ......!

'Dear ....... If you really hate me, just slash upwards .......

At last, Rustyala entrusted the right to live and die to the dire in front of him.

Even with the fatal wound, he still does not bend his words. He says he's okay with it because his trust in Diah outweighs his pain and fear.

'But I trust that Dear will get lost. ...... I trust that Dia would be lost to kill me, no matter what state I'm in .......

......!

Dia was speechless and moaned in an inarticulate voice.

Dia didn't ask why anymore.

I guess it's not even a reason anymore. The insanity of the defenseless girl in front of her - and the weight of trust seems to keep her whole body tied up and unable to move.

Right now, a voice must be echoing in Dia's head, telling her to kill Rustyala.

It was easy to detect this from the array of deadly magic that I saw and from the way he spoke. All of our instincts as human beings are coated with negative emotions, that is the magic of that 'thing that steals the reason for fire' Arti.

However, even in the midst of those thoughts filled with killing intent, Rustyala's voice arrived.

It was truly forced, but it was delivered and shown.

As a result, Dia's instincts and reason are at odds with each other.

The equilibrium between the killing intent and the bond has caused her to become completely rigid.

There, Rustyala supples forward as if to deposit his body. She opens her hands, which have been clenched all the time, and puts them around Dia's back and hugs her.

Dia continues to moan as all authority, including life and death, has been surrendered to her.