Chapter 402

402 – A Certain Girl and the Royal Banquet 6 (side Miria)

“Good grief… Rogueheil-dono should have come first. He could have quickly incapacitated them all.”

Thermal’s hand touches my shoulder. I can’t move. If he felt like it, I would likely suffer the same fate as the soldier who melted before my eyes.

I remember last time, when he touched me and I suddenly felt ill. This person can poison whatever he touches. No he’s not human. I understand now. He’s the same type of monsters as these soldiers.

『Death Sword Thermal』 isn’t the only one. Another one of the princess’s Three Knights has appeared in the hall. With indigo blue hair, she’s 『Sword of the Phantom Butterfly Mephisto』… With her arrival, their strength has entirely replenished.

Mephisto approaches Volk-san, who is still persistently facing off against the soldiers.

“…I was thinking it would be boring to be exhausted by underlings. I am fortunate that my last opponent will be the Demon Lord’s upper management! I’ll be taking your head!”

Holding his giant sword in hand, Volk-san leaps towards Mephisto.

“[Mirage].”

Mephisto’s appearance blurs into five images that rapidly separate out.

“Your fighting style is too reliant on physical strength, and far too simple. I might not be able to win a battle of strength, but that does not matter.”

The five Mephistos hold their swords ready and approach Volk-san.

“Then I just need to smash them all at once!”

Five huge slashes emerge from his greatsword, tearing across the floor as they fly towards each Mephisto.

“So forceful…!”

Illusions included, four of the Mephistos dodge the [Shockwaves]. One is hit by a [Shockwave], but it passes through without effect.

“But four still remain…”

“It’s obvious from how you dodged! Being startled was your fatal mistake! [Moon Sunder]!”

A lattice of light spirals from the tip of his greatsword, then suddenly converges. A beam of light streaks in a direct line from the direction he thrusts, piercing through everything in its path. The [Moon Sunder] shoots towards Mephisto while she’s still in the air from dodging the [Shockwave].

“I’m at my limit, but I can take one of you with me!”

“Ah!”

Astonishment appears on Mephisto’s face. I’m watching from a distance, but even I can understand. Like [Shockwave], that technique covers a sword slash with magic power and releases it, but the scale is fundamentally different. I don’t think there’s any living creature in this world that could survive at hit from that. Mephisto of the Three Knights shouldn’t be an exception.

But then, Mephisto’s clothes split vertically and a woman’s face with dishevelled hair peeks through. It’s a horrifying sight. I knew that she was a monster, but it’s still far too grotesque. The face has bloodshot, unhealthy-looking eyes and bluish-purple lips.

“Ugh, calm down already… You’re giving me a headache. Here, [Gravidon].”

As the head extends from the upper body, a third arm also reaches out. A sphere of black light appears from the outstretched arm, swelling larger until it becomes gigantic. The second Mephisto then shoots the sphere forward.

As the [Moon Sunder] passes through the [Gravidon], it is pulled towards the centre, causing its trajectory to swerve slightly, and as a result, it skims past Mephisto’s body. A completely round hole opens up in the wall behind her.“I missed…”

“I missed…”

“What was that power, are you insane? Are you really a human? Well, this is the end for you anyway.”

The second head looks behind Volk-san and laughs scornfully. At the same time as Mephisto lands, the strange-faced soldiers surrounding Volk-san rush towards him all at once. Perhaps struggling to move after unleashing such a huge attack, he is mercilessly showered upon by sword and tentacle blows.

Romrodon-san has also already fallen and is lying on the ground. Only the blond swordswoman has somehow avoided them as she runs around the room, but with the exits blocked, it seems like it’s only a matter of time until she’s caught.

“Don’t worry, you alone won’t be killed. Of course, some of your skills will be taken away and you’ll be turned into princess-sama’s doll.”

As I’ve fallen to my knees, Thermal-san strokes my head mockingly.

“Really… You’re in luck. Mephisto and Rogueheil don’t get it, but I do. Those two are too serious. They ought to play around more and work on their emotions. But anyway, if I take you with me, it’ll definitely delight princess-sama.

“Have… I met her before?”

“Nope. At most, I guess she’s seen you from a distance? But it seems she has met your friend. I’ve been listening around, so I knew right away. You’re that girl I heard about.”

I have no idea what he’s talking about. I have no idea, but… He surprisingly seems like someone who can be talked with. My impression had been that he was more insane, but it seems he’s at least someone who can hold a conversation.

“…I don’t mind going with you. But please, let Meltia-san go.”

“No can do. There’s nothing to gain from that.”

“She only came here for my sake. I am powerless, but… Judging from your reaction, it seems to me like it’s not completely impossible for me to negotiate.”

I point my staff at my head. My hand shivers in terror. But regardless, I force a brave smile.

“…Hmm, sounds interesting. I’ve mostly been left with assassination and attacks, but I have seen someone who said something similar. They weren’t serious in the end, though. I’d love to bet on whether or not you’d go through with it, but… I’ve taken an interest in you. Very well, I’ll try asking princess-sama to have her memory wiped and cast out, or else have her locked away. I can’t guarantee that she’ll agree, though.”

It’s an almost meaningless term that completely favours them. But there was value gained in this exchange. Most importantly, while we’ve been talking, I’ve kept one of their strongest forces occupied.

The next moment, the ceiling collapses. A double-headed dragon huge enough to fill up a portion of the huge hall lands on the ground. While the soldiers around Volk-san react in confusion, they’re flicked away by the dragon’s tail. Several are sent flying. Their armour crumples and their green bodies splatter.

Several of the soldiers try to swing their swords to finish off Volk-san. But one of the dragon’s heads protects him inside its mouth.

At the same time, the dragon’s wings flap, producing countless blades of wind which indiscriminately scatter around, keeping the strange-faced soldiers in check. The soldiers hit directly are cut in two together with their armour, their bodies scattering in a splash.

“Why is there a dragon here!? Is it her? Is this the Saint’s doing!?”

Thermal shouts. It seems this intrusion was unexpected for them too.

Riding atop the dragon’s two heads are a giant spider, and a girl with unnaturally pale skin and red eyes. A monster that looks like a glittering pool lead-coloured liquid rides on the dragon’s back. The giant spider spits out a thread and flies to the wall, then skitters along it.

The lead-coloured pool moves from the dragon’s back and breathes out a glittering cloud of metal dust. The dust sticks to the surface of soldiers that it touches, transforming them into glittering statues. As the statues tremble, unable to move, the dragon crushes them underfoot.

Still riding on the dragon’s head, the pale girl uses wind magic to create tornadoes that send the strange-faced soldiers flying, slamming them into the walls and floor. Within the span of a few seconds, most of the strange-faced soldiers that had more than doubled are reduced to pools of liquid and armour.

“Is it her [Spirit Servant]!? No, all of the Saint’s [Spirit Servant] should be filled already… In the first place, where would she find such a high-ranking dragon…?”

Thermal tightly grips my shoulder. Frustration and anger is visible on his face, and he bites his lip, spitting out words.

“No way, is it Irushia!?”

“Eh…?”

Irushia is the name I gave ages ago. It’s the name of the dragon I’ve been searching for.

I slowly watch the rampaging double-headed dragon. The dragon’s face in profile seems slightly familiar. But that is all. I can’t be certain.

“…This is the worst. We were looking down on the Saint. While we were putting off dealing with it, she got in contact and formed an alliance. At any rate, I need to split everyone up… As long as they work together, the soldiers and Mephisto-dono can deal with all of them other than Irushia. I need to quickly inform princess-sama of the situation and meet up with Rogueheil-dono to take down Irushia…”

Thermal looks at me, an evil smile on his face.

“I guess the situation isn’t the worst. To think such a good card would fall into our hands at the last moment. Princess-sama would say it’s the blessing of God’s Voice. I don’t believe that stuff though. The problem that remains is when the Saint will play the rest of her cards though…”

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