Volume 3 Chapter 5 - The Faceless God Part 2
No matter how high their magic power was, to not defend or dodge at all were the fatal weak points of the Quad-core Magica. Rather it could even be seen as their wish to be completely liberated that they accepted all the attacks.
After Kazuki and his party held the initiative, the Quad-core Magica were defeated one after another.
“Hooray, we protected the Sword Division! Kazu-nii!”
“We did it, as expected of Nii-sama! Please give a reward kiss for me doing my best!!”
Mio and Kanae came hugging Kazuki.
“…You two, it looks like it’s still too early to be happy.”
Kazuki brushed aside the cheek of his childhood friend and step-sister who used every chance to try to have skinship with a serious expression. “Munyu” “Funya” Both of them leaked out a voice free from all worry.
Kazuki sensed the magic power approaching them.
It was a magic power he was familiar with.
“You solved this wonderfully. You haven’t used up all your strength against the small fishes in the opening act right, lad.”
A voice that reminded one of steel even though it was female, could be heard.
From the opposite side of the school building wreckage and dust that told the aftermath of a fierce battle, a familiar woman in armor appeared.
…Einherjar! So these guys finally came with this kind of timing!
“I missed you so lad…no, Kazuki! How about we meet our affections blade to blade again!!”
“Beatrix!”
On either side of her, two other armored soldiers were waiting.
“Da-mia-n hee-re. Nice to meet you.”
A short girl, an Einherjar with an appearance and voice that looked and sounded like a cheeky child introduced herself with the middle finger of both her hands pointed up.
“Is there any need to introduce oneself to the opponent that we will fight after this? …Eleonora. Best regards.”
The other person, the tall statured Einherjar continued with her self-introduction. She was a female with gentle eyes but, she was not supposed to be an average magician.
There was no mistake that these girls were called here by Headmaster Otonashi― Nyarlatoteph.
Kazuki realized all of Nyarlatoteph’s contrivance. After dealing with Kazuki and Lotte in this place, there was no doubt that he plans to blame the turmoil the Quad-core Magica caused as the work of [the unknown Diva Hayashiki Kazuki was contracted with].
In the rear of the Einherjar, Kaguya-senpai was also waiting on standby.
“Kaguya! …You understand that this situation is suspicious right!? Even so you still plan to stand at that side!?”
Hoshikaze-senpai shouted.
“I am…Otouto-kun has to…”
Kaguya-senpai who was wrapped in her Magic Dress cast her eyes down with a mournful face.
“Hayashizaki-kun’s case might be over with just transferring to the Sword Division but, Lotte won’t be able to escape with this situation you know!?”
Hoshikaze-senpai raised her voice to try to persuade Kaguya-senpai. Hoshikaze-senpai was still of the wrong impression that Kazuki would end up transferring to the Sword Division. However even if that would happen, Lotte’s life was still in serious threat.
In the previous fight, Kaguya-senpai was still fighting with her own will. But the script Kaguya-senpai assumed at that time had already changed into something impossible to realize. If the situation kept like this then Lotte’s life absolutely won’t be able to be saved anymore.
Kaguya-senpai distorted her expression from getting stuck in the dilemma between her sense of responsibility and emotions.
“Don’t listen to them. You understand, Kaguya. You, as the strongest magician, just enjoy fighting the strongest magic swordsman.”
At Kaguya-senpai’s side, Headmaster Otonashi whispered to Kaguya-senpai. Magic power was generated from that whisper.
“Accept this as you are…Oracle of EcstasySanity Down!”
Nyarlatoteph’s characteristic magic!?
In that instant, from the eyes of Kaguya-senpai―the color of emotion vanished.
The only one who noticed this magic phenomenon was Kazuki who reinforced his senses. Beatrix’s group didn’t even turn back at the situation behind them.
“I am…the strongest magician, so…I have to do this!”
Kaguya-senpai said so expressionlessly.
What was left inside Kaguya-senpai right now was just the logic and responsibility that Headmaster Otonashi planted, and then―the craving of her own self somewhere in her heart, nothing but to fight a stronger person.
…Nothing else could be done other than to fight senpai!
Senpai’s heart had been already chained by that evil god long before she met me.
I will defeat senpai, and liberate her from that evil god!
Kazuki glared at the enemy alertly while calling out his [comrades] at his back.
“…Everyone, if it's us then we can win! Those Einherjar aren't a big deal. After all the strongest class from the Magic Division and the Sword Division had also gathered on this side.”
In front of the mighty enemy called Einherjar, Kazuki encouraged his withering comrades.
“Kanae, cooperate with Kohaku and stop Beatrix in the middle. Her physical strength and reflexes are reinforced. The only one who can dodge her attacks is only you of the Hayashizaki-syle.”
Kazuki glanced back to the back and handed Raikiri to Kanae.
“If that girl is covering her sword with lightning, use this Sacred Treasure.”
In pure skill of Kenjutsu, Kanae was equal with Kazuki. She should be able to buy time against Beatrix as her opponent if she received magic support.
“Understood, Nii-sama.”
“Mio, you are going to attack from behind with magic. …Barrett could be blocked by the shield. However Mio is supposed to always continue growing.”
Only by saying that, Mio understood everything Kazuki wanted to say and nodded.
“…That’s only natural. Don’t look down on a rank A.”
Whether Kanae could stop Beatrix or not depended on Mio’s support.
This time Kazuki was talking to Hoshikaze-senpai.
“The one most reliable among us is senpai. The Einherjar are all-purpose Magica Stigma who can even perform close-quarters combat skillfully, but if it is senpai who can use Ride Lightning then senpai should be able to exchange swords with them.”
“Okay, leave it to me! After all I’m a senior and your friend. It’s okay to rely on me as much as you like!”
Hoshikaze-senpai replied happily. That brightness of hers gave some encouragement to Kazuki.
“Koyuki…Koyuki is not alone anymore. Not fighting solo, so cooperate with your comrades and fight.”
When he looked over his shoulder with a glance, Koyuki made a meek face from Kazuki’s words.
“…To trust other people besides Kazuki, it’s scary.”
Kazuki felt happy from those words, but he shook his head.
“Even more than alone, you can be far stronger by cooperating with everyone. Absolutely. You won’t be betrayed by anyone here.”
Koyuki nodded deeply.
“Lotte will take the role of search-and-destroy using your level 5 magic, aim for those who try to chant high level magic.”
“Okay desu!”
“For Kazuha-senpai…sorry to drag you into this…”
“Hn, even I can read the general mood. You were falsely accused by those guys, right? I can’t tolerate shameless guys but, against cowardly guys, I also hate them.”
“Kazuha-senpai needs to avoid close-quarters combat as much as possible, please support the comrades who are in a pinch from the rear.”
“Youu…I don’t want to accept instructions of someone like you but…I will recognize those instructions as the right call!!”
At the end of his line of sight, Beatrix was eagerly sending a heated gaze, but Kazuki ignored that and stared at Kaguya-senpai directly.
“I will fight Kaguya-senpai.”
There was nothing that could be done if magic came flying from Kaguya-senpai in the rear with vanguards as powerful as the Einherjar. Someone has to hold back the magic of Kaguya-senpai.
{Aren’t you behaving more like a king here?}
Inside his head Leme was coming to talk.
There was no intention like that. …It’s only that he wanted to liberate Kaguya-senpai with his own hands!
Kazuki resolved himself, he faced the enemy and took a step. That was the trigger of the battle.
“Fufufu! This is the continuation from the fight before, Kazuki!! …I will have a good fight, welcoming a good death, wishing to participate in even more fights in the heavens! The divine protection of the color of the blood in my pupils! Berserk!!”
The red-pupil mad soldier Beatrix was coming to welcome Kazuki passionately.
“…There is no free time to accompany you! Stop the steps of the hated enemy, hasten the steps of the chosen one… O divine protection of mermaid, grant me the blade to dance on top of the ice! Moves in the Field!”
While Kazuki ran to the enemy formation, he activated the magic he became able to use from his bond with Koyuki.
The surface of the battlefield was frozen in the blink of an eye. It was a magic that exhibited heavy effect to the Einherjar whose core was close-quarters combat.
Beatrix’s feet slipped on the icy surface―there, Kazuki accelerated and slipped through from the side using ice-skating boots. Beatrix saw off Kazuki’s back with an astonished expression.
Keeping that momentum, Kazuki went to slash Kaguya-senpai.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
“What the…is this the taste of unrequited love…? Fufufu, so even I have some of a maiden's heart left inside me.”
“Beatrix-taichou, you are a little odd zee!?”
Damian gave a tsukkomi to Beatrix who said such an incomprehensible thing.
“…We act in accordance of Hodur’s wish, I entrust my body to the exaltation of battle! The war fires of violent emotion running in the fat and blood on my sword!! Merit of the SlaughtererStories Flame!”
Damian drew out her sword and invoked her magic. The sword in her hand was enveloped in fierce flames.
“It’s sooo depressing! Melt all of this!!”
Damian stabbed the sword of flame into the ground. Thereupon, the flame residing in the sword was transmitted in a wave motion, the frozen surface of the ground were melted in the time it took to say ‘ah’.
“Good job, Damian! With this I can chase Kazuki!!”
Beatrix’s eyes, that were full with obsession, chased Kazuki’s back.
―At that time, the shadow of a black cat had already drawn close to Beatrix.
“I won’t let you get close to Nii-sama! This damn stalker!!”
Kanae poured on kodachi slashes at Beatrix.
Beatrix avoided all of those attacks with superhuman reflexes.
“Fufufu…I wonder if I should make a greeting to his family first! Glad to meet you and please take care of me!!”
Kanae Foresighted Beatrix’s counter attack and avoided it completely with agile motion.
After the offense and defense in the place of the greeting ended, Kanae and Beatrix squared against each other.
There Damian attempted to provide assistance. But a streak of lightning came flying as if to hold her back. Hoshikaze Hikaru was setting up a bow of lighting and aimed at Damian.
“I won’t let you be a hindrance to Kanae-san. I will pin you down myself.”
“HeeeClasse! An immature ass of a student dares to say such a cheeky line! I’ll make that pretty face messed uppppppp!”
Damian headed to Hikaru while brandishing her flame sword.
Damian had gone from that place. Kanae and Beatrix clashed against each other. Kanae evaded Beatrix’s attacks lightly and loosely then counter-attacked with her kodachi. Beatrix dodged the kodachi again with her superhuman reflexes.
“You are even faster than Kazuki huh! But I’m going to accelerate even more you know!? O divine protection of military men, double the divine powerMegin whirling in my body! Dashing to endless fights as the will of the god, in this body! …Megingjord!”
A glittering light was raining down from the sky heading to Beatrix, Beatrix’s whole body carried on even more strength. Even faster, even stronger, she came swinging her sword at Kanae.
Kanae crossed both her kodachi and blocked the strong sword coming down.
“Hayashizaki-style two-swords art, Wind God’s Instant Positioning!”
Before Kanae was outpushed by Beatrix’s strength, she twisted the crossed kodachi suddenly and forcefully. Rotating her body, she redirected Beatrix’s sword to the wrong direction.
Beatrix’s posture was broken. Kanae turned in a circle like a spinning top and visited Beatrix a slash after a full rotation. With her reinforced body balance, Beatrix corrected her disordered stance forcefully and dodged Kanae’s kodachi. However her movement was a dodging technique of heavy work, it caused an unnaturalness in her stance.
“Now, Kohaku!” Kanae yelled.
Not letting Beatrix’s gap go to waste, Kohaku came charging.
“This guy’s weapon is reflexes! Use that Sacred Treasure the moment I do it!!”
Toward that hint Kanae provided, Kohaku immediately responded.
From the seven Sacred Treasures she owned, Kohaku drew the one for the use of close-quarters combat from her hip.
“Run O beam of light, <Mikadzuki Munechika>! Battou Kaikon―Getsuei no Tachi!!”
That Battou Kaikon reversed cause and effect, the moment the hand grasped the sword, a slash had already occurred.
It might be possible for the Hayashizaki-style with Foresight as its forte, but by no means was it a technique that could be seen through by reflexes alone.
Kanae repelled Beatrix’s attack with Instant Positioning and protected Kohaku.
“I will redirect this guy’s strength and create an opportunity! Match your breath with me!”
“…Yes! Kana-nyan-senpai!”
Recognizing the strength of these two, Beatrix’s expression did a complete change.
―They can’t be made light of. These guys are master hands that can’t be killed instantly.
Thereupon, the summoning magic that was aimed at her right at this moment was becoming a problem. Concentrating only at the swordsmen would land you through bitter experience, this was the tactic of Japan’s Knight Order that was called the [Heaven and Earth Formation].
Beatrix had already comprehended that tactic.
Right, she already understood the tactic. …Like who it was that she needed to target first.
Beatrix’s eyes sipped away from Kanae and Kohaku, and caught the sight of Mio.
This flame magician, as long as she had this flame protection shield, <Svalinn>, then she was an opponent of little importance.
First she would deal with that girl!
“You see, I’m not someone foolhardy enough that I will go nuts to fight only the opponent in front of my eyes…I’m going to ignore you bastards! First is you!”
Beatrix ignored Kanae and Kohaku and dashed at Mio like a meteor. She shook off Kanae and Kohaku in one breath. They couldn’t pursue Beatrix with pure speed.
As for Mio, she faced Beatrix with determination.
I’m waiting for you to do that, that was what Mio whispered inside her mouth.
…This guy was thinking of me as a drag. She knew that I’m someone that couldn’t do anything if she managed to get near. She was thinking that I had no way to do anything as long as she had that flame shield.
This guy's current actions, I don’t need to be Kazuki to Foresight what she is going to do.
That was why Mio didn’t chant any superfluous magic, she was chanting the greatest magic she could chant and waiting in preparation for the moment Beatrix was heading for her.
“Just try to defend this with your shield if you really…!”
In front of a formidable enemy, Mio floated a smile that would make one shudder.
Just like what Lotte said, I am someone who can display my brightness against a formidable enemy!
The straight line distance that was connecting Mio and Beatrix was ran through by Beatrix in just an instant. Beforehand, Mio had already prepared a trap at the distance of that straight line.
Moving the oxygen using Psychokinesis, she heightened the concentration of oxygen at the zone of that straight line.
On top of which―she fired!
“O bird of paradise where the light of the heavens is residing in that body, answer my accusation and reduce to ashes the sin on the earth! Israel Judgment!!”
A heat ray was fired right from the front of the charging Beatrix.
The quality of the magic was different from Barrett. The beam was flying with the speed of light.
Against that, even with Beatrix’s reflexes it was impossible to defend with a shield.
What was going on at this moment was something that was impossible to comprehend for Beatrix.
Beatrix who was inside the highly concentrated oxygen that had a highly combustible property was fired at with an ultra-heat laser. The oxygen was bursting out all at once in a raging explosion!
It was a level 6 magic even at the best of times but, with the application of common magic Mio used however, that magic could be bragged to fire destructive power equal to magic of level 7 or 8.
Due to the tremendous impact of her smashed magic, Beatrix was blown away a far distance and crashed into the wreckage of the school building.
While getting buried in the wreckage, Beatrix directed an expression as if to say that she couldn’t believe it to Mio.
Seeing that expression, Mio drowned out her inferiority complex and puffed her chest haughtily.
“Fufun. Because Kazu-nii had already said that the guy who challenges the same opponent in the same way from the previous fight is an idiot! That brain tissue of yours, it's made of muscle isn’t it?”
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
Hoshikaze Hikaru was challenging Damian in a one-to-one fight.
“The destiny of all creation is inside the great celestial sphere…O binding of the constellation, suspend the motion of the sky! Star Gauze Sky PrisonHoroscope Stasis!”
Hikaru was chanting her magic, countless stars were floating around Damian’s body. In the space between the stars, lines were running like a constellation, the lines of light restrained Damian into immobility.
This restraint magic that can even seal dragons couldn’t be escaped using human’s physical strength.
“Annoyiiiiing! We are Hodur’s, negate all obstacles toward the sacred battle and distribute the divine protection of Norn to us! Belt of Victory of the Three GoddessesNorngjord!”
Damian’s body was wrapped in a flaring strong light, and right at that moment the lines of light disappeared.
Right now she didn’t break the restraint with brute force. The opponent was chanting a purge magic.
―If Hikaru doesn’t make any strange mistakes then you are about as strong as me you know?
While Hikaru remembered some words Kaguya had said to her once, she decided to progress the battle calmly. She tended to lose her temper, however if she fought calmly then she should be able to compete against this tough enemy.
And then I will take back Kaguya together with Hayashizaki-kun!
“Lightning Line!”
Hikaru fired the Summoning Magic she chanted while Damian was restrained to her direction.
“GAA!”
Damian leaked out a scream, she was taken aback by the impact of the smashed magic.
“You sheetty bastaard! …Blessing of immortality slipped through this hand O mistletoe of disaster, malice and misunderstanding is received in the tail and feathers, shooting to death the son of god! Bow of MistletoeMistilteinn!”
Bow and arrow was created in Damian’s hands, quickly she fired the arrow.
Mistilteinn―the bow and arrow of mistletoe that pierced the son of god Baldur in Norse Mythology.
The Diva that Damian was a believer of was the blind god, Hodur. In Norse Mythology, holding the bow and arrow and the magic sword of mistletoe in hand he was the Diva that would unroll the fight of destiny with Baldur.
“Storm Fort!”
Hikaru chanted her defensive magic of wind. However MistilteinnDamian’s arrow slipped through and pierced Hikaru. The blue defensive magic power was smashed.
Something like a bow and arrow was a projectile weapon that was supposed to be blown away by wind. Despite the attribute superiority that was supposed to be there, this arrow slipped through the defensive magic and came flying. Probably, this bow and arrow possessed the power to make every defense powerless. Identical with the legend where it shot Baldur to death.
Hikaru judged that challenging her in close-quarters combat was a good plan and she stepped forward.
At the same time Damian was also opting for close-quarters combat.
“Ride Lightning!”
“Stories Flame!”
Hikaru and Damian were invoking magic for close range combat at the same time.
Hikaru’s body accelerated. Damian’s sword was entangled with strong flames.
Using the super high-speed kenjutsu she learned from Kazuki, Hikaru slashed Damian without permitting any defense or evasion.
Damian swung the western sword that was clad in flame of karma. Hikaru dodged it with the use of skillful agility, but she couldn’t dodge everything repeatedly and received large damage from the hit she got.
The offense and defense of Hikaru that shredded minutely small damages and Damian that inflicted large damage in one shot, if it was seen comprehensively, they were even.
Hikaru thought―she had confidence in her concentration toward spells. It seemed the opponent couldn’t chant in this exchange. I’m going to chant a high level magic during these exchanges of slashes and decide the victory and defeat right here!
Damian thought―this son of a b*tch, is she thinking that she is even with me? Waving around her sword desperately like a stupid idiot, while this side was already chanting high level magic during the fight, I’m going to make you know your place!
And then during the exchange of close-quarters combat, both of them invoked magic at the same time.
“Know the rage of god with this sacred flame’s thunderous roar! All the howls of the sky reside in this hand, bring down the world destroying hammer! Break the world with one attack! Yagrush!!”
“The sword clutched in this hand turns the blessing into a curse of malice! While wishing for the rebirth in time, this hand severs the son of god’s immortal thread of life! Annihilation Divine SwordMistilteinn II!”
Both of their arias were Sacred Treasure creation magic.
Both of them opened their eyes wide in astonishment and surprise. And then they thought of the same thing―a simultaneous strike is bad! If I got hit with that magic power, I’m going to be sorry!
Weapon and weapon clashed, the fight entered into a contest of strength.
Both of the weapons clashed against each other like they were drawing in their opponent.
What Hikaru held in her hand was the hammer of lightning that the highest god of ancient Phoenicia, Baal held in his left hand. The name of Baal represented the sound of lightning, this weapon could be said to be the synonym of Baal.
What Damian held in her hand was the magic sword of instant death that could murder even god. Mistilteinn that severed the life of Baldur was told in legend as a bow and arrow and also as a cursed magic sword.
Colossal lightning was converging in the striking part of Hikaru’s large hammer, Damian’s large sword was clad in black aura like a dark cloud, devouring that lightning greedily and extinguishing it.
Lightning and curse were negating each other―hammer and sword were using up their strength to the end and vanished together.
…It’s a draw!
Both of them took a distance simultaneously, they set up their original weapon respectively again.
“Strong! As expected of Einherjar!”
“You bastaaaard, what the hell are you doing giving praise so haughtily while looking down at me! You think you're equal with this me!? Sheet Schei?e! Stop bullsheetting me Schei?e! I’ll fucking kill you Schei?e!”
They are even but, it was fine even if the victory or defeat hadn’t been decided yet. Her objective was to wait for Hayashizaki-kun to liberate Kaguya. …With that line of thought, Hikaru had far more leeway compared to Damian.
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