Chapter 41 (1/2)
”Everyone…”
Mizuki, the one left behind by Reiji and everyone else during the battle against Rajas, grits her teeth
Reiji and titania are at the edge of the cru the powerful mazokuEven the aristocrat who set up Suimei and the Empire's ih a knight's protectionI couldn't accoets smaller behind Luka's back as she reprimands herself
Once, in the other world, when she was in trouble, both Reiji and Suih her friends are in danger, this terrifying mazoku leaves her too scared to moveGuilt from her oeakness strikes her heart and conscience
–Can she even do anything?
She heard Suier, yet could only quiver in fear and take shelter behind Luka's backWhile Reiji and everyone else fight, all she can do ait for everything to end
Hasn't she always been like that?Befriending strong people so they could protect her?Right now, such a person stands before her after having been forced into a difficult battle against a large hts worsen the more Mizuki thinks about them
No… stop… Such a thing…
That's right, such thoughts are uselessHer current responsibilities don't allow for self-depreciationShe can't give up on herself, not right next to Reiji
There's also the other girl who ca, Aster's princess titaniaHer resolution on the battlefield isn't just for ReijiIt's for everyone, even coers
Isn't there…Isn't there so for herShe can't do anything right now, but the future is differentShe won't become a burden who just needs to be protectedShe just needs to get strongerFrom now on, that's what she'll put all her effort intoThat's what she can do
As for what she has— that's right, what she has isshe's been able to learn since co she'll be able to help with on the battlefieldHowever, norer than Graziela's if she wants to help against mazoku like Rajas
The ic I can use…
–A breath of fire is enough to end this frozen hell…
”Ah…”A voice full of conviction echoes within her head without warningWith it appears a clear ieHer intuition tells her that that is what she needs to defeat her eneht pro both titania and Felic sometimes descends down and appears within one's headShe heard that such a thing happened the first ti
She has to put it to good useShe won't reach the sae to standThe real question is whether or not she can squeeze out that courageShe juht in mind
”Mi- Mizuki-dono!?Wa-Wait!”
”Mizuki!?”
Luka and Reiji call out to her upon realizing she's throwing herself into danger
Mizuki doesn't stopShe's doing this for herself, for the right to stand next to hih the middle of the battlefield and stops at Rajas's backShe never noticed when she confronted soldiers, but like this she can cast ainst an unprotected back—
”What's this… A little girl?”
”Uh, ah…”
Rajas looks over its shoulder before she can cast her spellJust falling underneath the h for her to freezeShe can't even ainst this?How can anyone fight such aother than violence
”What are you doing?Mizuki, get down!”
”Hirl came out before me—”
titania and Rajass' voices bounce around within Mizuki's headShe's isn't in a position to tell them apartAll she can see is Rajas's enorh her body, yet the h it were a featherShe's immobileHer mind fills itself with the delusion that Rajas's ar
Her effort was pointlessShe had a good idea, but her courage ran dry
”You're in the way!”Rajas's words are coldShe's nothing ant mazoku
”It doesn't coet a small, insect like, voice outShe can't hear it, but even if it's inaudible to her, it can still grant her wishThis situation— ”
”—Guaahhhhhhh!”
While Mizuki is bound in place by her fear, Rajas takes the first step forward only to be overcouish as it grips its chest— No, that's the source of its painSo within its bodySoon, serpent like pale lightning seeps out of Rajas's wounds and joints
”Uh, ah, gahhh!bastard, I won't, I won't succu, or is he directing it towards so no one will ever knowThunder crackles as the pale lightning morphs into a viper and devours the inside of Rajas bodyIt's the sa touches an exposed powerlineRajas can't do a thing as his cold shrills mix with the sound
Reiji springs from titania's arms and, in an instant, is at Rajas's chestHas his body already healed?Either way, this isn't an opportunity he'll missThat's when a band of fire wraps around Reiji's bodyWithout anyone noticing, he used strengthening ic
Likewise, Rajas's arThe orichalcules to move his arms
”Haaaaaaaaaaa!”Reiji's roar shakes the air as he thrusts his orichalcum sword into Rajas's chest
”Gu… Ah… Impossible, this, this, can't happen…”
Thethe finishi+ng blowIf anything, it seeh its heart were pricked by a needle
Reiji, having stabbed the sword, is silentEven though his blade was stopped, he forces it forwardBit by bit, the tip of his sword sinks into Rajas's bodyThat's when a jolt of lightening runs through the blade and repels him
”Gu, uuu…If only that et in my way”
”The person responsible for this disaster?”
”Hile handedly annihilating uy didn't exist!You'd be the ones like this!”Rajas th only for it to scatter with a cryIt wasn't Reiji's sword or the lightning that prevented the , but a curse
That's when Felmenia steps forward to face Rajas
”What do you want… woman…?”
The beautifulHer presence is allinessFel I want to ask you”
”What do you want to ask?”
”This is about the man in black you mentioned earlier”
”What…?”Rajas's sweaty face changes into one of suspicion
Felhts and asks, ”Mazoku, did the ician?”
”—Womaaan!!You know that bastaaaaaard!?”The question disturbs Rajas so e upon hearing itKnowledge of the rudge with a beastly voiceIt soon turns to panting as the spreading curseout too painful
Mercy cools from Felmenia's amber eyes as she takes pleasure (or, sy such feelings?”…I seeThen, we can say you had an unfortunate encounter with him”
”Tell me…Who … Who is that…”
”Did he not he call hi more I can say”