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Rokujouma no Shinryakusha!? (Light Novel) - Volume 12, Chapter 6: Bonds
Volume 12, Chapter 6: Bonds
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Part 1
Saturday, April 24
Crimson and Green's cooperation was only disordered for 30 seconds or so.
Before that, their teamwork had been perfect and they had been cornering Theia and the others. But during those 30 seconds, their movements got visibly worse.
“What's wrong, Green?! Your forecasts are wrong?!”
“I'm sorry, Crimson! Just a moment ago, some higher level of being descended onto the world and threw my predictions off!”
“Just what world did it come from, damnit, during these busy times!...Could it be that devil Maki contracted?!”
“I think so... But if it's by Maya-san, things might be a little more troublesome...”
Green's voice was clouded. If the higher level of being wasn't summoned by Maki, then chances were that Maya was in danger.
“Wait, you mean that Yurika might have summoned it?!”
With most of her body now replaced with machines, Maya couldn't use any large-scale summoning magic. That's why if Maki hadn't summoned her contracted partner, then Yurika would probably be the one responsible for summoning the higher level being.
“We can't disregard that possibility. That's why we need to hurry and finish up over here!”
“Got it!”
Green and Crimson wanted to wrap things up at room 106 as quickly as possible and move to help Maya or Maki. Their disordered cooperation had already recovered so it shouldn't be that hard.
“After the blond haired girl attacks with her energy bullet, she'll pass over the manhole up ahead.”
“Explosion — Modifier — Time Trigger!”
“Force Field — Modifier — Area Effect!”
Following Green's forecast, Crimson placed a timed spell while Green activated a defensive spell.
“Blue Knight! Fire the Particle Cannon at full speed!”
“As you wish, my princess.”
And just like Green had foreseen, Theia took action. The cannon she summoned from the Blue Knight opened fire. But since they had prepared a defensive barrier before Theia opened fire, her attacks were all blocked.
“Tsk!!”
Realizing her attacks were blocked, Theia charged forward for her next attack. But once she reached the manhole, an explosion suddenly happened around her.
“Your highness?!”
Ruth let out a cry. The explosion was from an offensive spell Crimson had prepared beforehand.
“I-I'm fine! Don't worry!”
“Alert Message, increased load on the distortion field. Any further combat action will be dangerous.”
But fortunately, Theia appeared from the flames unharmed. She then returned to Kiriha and the others. That said, her dress was scorched and dirtied from the explosion. Having taken several attacks from the enemy, Theia's barrier was reaching its limit.
“Kiriha, our attacks have stopped hitting again!”
Theia reported the situation while swatting away the dirt from her face and dress.
“It's like they're reading your movements, Theia-chan.”
Shizuka mortifyingly grinded her teeth since the enemy didn't let her close in. Now that the enemy had regained their ability to see the future, there was nothing she could do.
“Her forecasts have recovered, huh...”
“They seem to have regained the ability alongside the second gravity quake.”
Using the data that Ruth had gathered, Kiriha analyzed the situation.
“...A second gravity quake, their forecasts recovered... and why did...”
Kiriha's expression didn't have the same calmness to it as she did when laundering Koutarou's clothes. Instead, she had the serious expression of a commander in combat.
“What do we do, Kiriha!! At this rate we'll die!!”
Sanae knew how the battle was progressing better than anyone else. She could tell the state of everyone's strength, energy and fighting spirit by looking at their auras. And currently, the magical girls were above them by quite a bit. At this rate, defeat was inevitable.
“...We attack.”
“Did you figure something out?!”
“Yeah. I only have a rough idea, but... luck really is on our side.”
Kiriha smiled confidently. But Sanae didn't understand what Kiriha was saying so she leaned forward and asked for more details.
“I don't understand if you put it like that! Explain in more detail!”
“Got it. I want you to move the way I say from now on. For starters.”
Kiriha explained her plan to Theia and the others.
“...Would something like that work?”
“Yeah. Judging how things have gone so far, there shouldn't be any problems.”
Shizuka and the others hadn't been expecting something like that, but Kiriha still had the same confident smile.
Part 2
Crimson and Green started feeling something was off as they started taking minor counter attacks. Green's forecasts were still accurate, and Crimson's powerful attacks continued damaging her enemies. But they would get surrounded by their enemies for just a moment and suffer counter attacks.
“Kuh, again?!”
Crimson frowned turned her mantle back over. As she did, the haniwas shot out electricity and fire. Crimson took some minor burns and felt a little numb in her hands.
“Green! Something's wrong!”
“I'm sorry! I don't really― Kyaaaaaaaa!!”
“Green?!”
And another difference was that Green took her first big hit of the fight. They were all attacks that Green couldn't predict. Having relied on her forecast to fight, this was an attack she couldn't avoid.
“I-I'm fine! Somehow!”
“What's going on?!”
Crimson and Green were falling into a state of chaos. The forecasts were still accurate, yet they were taking minor hits, and sometimes attacks that hadn't been foreseen would come. This was a situation that neither Green nor Crimson had expected.
“...So this is what you'd call the egg of Columbus...”
Theia spoke a phrase she had just learned in class while she admired her own bullseye. Their struggle up until now seemed like just a dream.
“Just what are you doing?!”
Distancing herself, Crimson threw her question at Theia and the others. Despite the perfect forecasts, the enemy was surpassing them. She was so perplexed that she even asked her enemies for the answer.
“Nothing. If I were to say, it's that we understand the laws of natures of this world better than you.”
Kiriha was the one to answer the question as she carefully observed Crimson and Green. Kiriha wasn't getting overconfident. She knew that even if she revealed the truth, the forecasts wouldn't start working again.
“That's not possible!! Green's forecasts are perfect!!”
“Indeed, your forecasts are perfect.”
Kiriha affirmed Crimson's words. But even with her forecasts being perfect Kiriha and the others still had a chance to win.
“But even then there's a limit. Because of the uncertainty of the world, there's only so much you could see. And your own actions aren't taken into consideration or the forecasts would loop forever.”
Because the future was uncertain, forecasts would see several futures. Green gave Crimson directions based on the most probable futures. And for the same reason, they could only see a little further into the future.
Whenever they would attack, the forecasts would affect their own actions, reducing the accuracy. Fighting using counter attacks was the most reliable way of dealing with forecasts.
“On top of that, there's a limit to how often you can use magic to produce forecasts. On top of that, she had to convey everything she has seen to you.”
Since magic was used to see into the future, there was a limit to its use. And there was a limit to the information being conveyed, even when using a mental link. It wasn't like the two had unlimited energy, perfect communication and instant thoughts.
“You should have finished this fight before we noticed that.”
The biggest problem was giving Kiriha enough time to figure out the characteristics of forecasts. She now understood the true nature of forecasts better than the magical girls. And using that understanding as her basis, she set up a strategy. That was the reason as to why the invader girls' attacks started hitting.
“Impossible!! How is that even possible?!”
“In the end, forecasts are just information. If the user is dominated by its forecast, it'll lose things it could win.”
Kiriha's plan was a very simple one.
First, use large scale attacks to force the magical girls to keep moving. Doing that, the magical girls own evasive actions will change the future, reducing the accuracy of the forecasts.
The invader girls would be divided into those who attacked first, and those who waited for Crimson to attack. That would make the forecasts that didn't work that far into the future in the first place even less accurate, and make it harder for Crimson to dodge.
In other words, because Kiriha understood how the forecasts worked, the more accurate the forecast was, the more Crimson and Green would be dominated by it. If the magical girls relied a little less on the forecasts, this wouldn't have happened. This was a crisis their overconfidence had caused.
“You shouldn't have focused on just magic, but also tried to learn a little bit more about the world. This is the limit for sheltered girls.”
“That hurts, Kiriha.”
Theia laughed. When she had first come to room 106, she hadn't known much about the world either. She had broken out of her shell now, but she felt a little embarrassed and felt as she was looking into a mirror.
“Your highness, I've finished altering the settings.”
“Alright! Blue Knight! Attack! I will leave everything to you!”
“As you wish, my princess.”
Theia and Ruth were in charge of the trump attack.
“What are you doing?!”
“Who knows? Because not even I do.”
“Get away right now, Crimson! I can see hundreds of different attacks and I have no idea which one is coming!”
“What?!”
Following Kiriha's instructions, Ruth had made changes to the Blue Knight's settings. Normally, the Blue Knight's artificial intelligence chose an appropriate weapon following Theia's or Ruth's instructions. Because of that, it would only make logical attacks, making it relatively easy to create forecasts.
However, Ruth had altered the settings to choose a weapon at random. As a result, the chances for any of the attacks to be chosen was equal. Even weapons for use in space might be chosen. Not even Theia knew what weapon would be chosen. The attack radius, target and weapon were all random. Green's forecasts were useless because of the irrational situation.
Simply put, one could say that future forecasts was the ultimate method of reading the opponent's habits. That's why if the attacker essentially rolled a dice to attack, forecasts wouldn't be accurate. And what's worse was that the dice had hundreds of sides. An accurate forecast was out of the question.
All Crimson and Green could do in this situation was fall back as quickly as possible. But that was exactly what Kiriha wanted. There was no need for Theia to actually attack. Her aim was to create a future that was impossible to predict and make Crimson and Green retreat.
“Gooo! Shizukaaaaa!!”
“...To corner a fortune teller that can see the future with just your head... Kiriha-san, just what kind of brain do you have...?”
Being supported by Sanae, Shizuka chased after Green and Crimson. With her physical abilities enhanced by Sanae, it was easy to catch up to them.
“Mind Bla―”
“You're too slow!”
Shizuka's target was the fortune teller, Green. Having gotten within range, Shizuka sent her right fist flying towards Green, who was attempting to attack her. Shizuka's fist hit Green's jaw before she could finish her incantation.
“Guah?!”
And while Green was launched into the air by the attack, Shizuka attacked her repeatedly. She launched a combination attack of several punches, an elbow strike into a roundhouse kick, for a total of a seven hit combo, as Green collapsed onto the ground.
“Green!”
“You've finally come!”
Shizuka jumped backwards, and in the next instant Crimson swung her cane where she had been standing.
Crimson's cane slammed into the ground and cracked the asphalt.
“Aaaaaaahhhh?! The parking lot!!”
Shizuka screamed. The battle between Shizuka and the others vs the magical girls was taking place in the parking lot behind Corona House. Of course, since it was her parents’ heritage, she was deeply attached to it. So seeing the asphalt crack and shatter, she was incredibly shocked.
“I told you before... If you break something... I'll make you regret living....”
“You didn't, you didn't! You told us, Shizuka!”
“...Have you heard of bone breaking torture...? Apparently you start with the hands and feet, and break bones from small to large... ufu, ufufufu, ufufufufu!”
“You better hurry up and run away, Red! Once she's like this, you don't stand a chance!”
“Just the way I like it!”
To Crimson who only sought power, going up against a martial arts expert was just what she wanted. She also had to save Green, so no one would be able to criticize her. Crimson grasped her cane in both hands and charged against Shizuka.
Her cane started transforming until it formed a spearhead and an axe's blade. They were made out of offensive magic and had no physical form. The cane weighed and handled like it normally did, but it now had the power of a great axe.
Crimson made use of her exceptional physical strength to spin it around like a pinwheel and swung the great axe at Shizuka.
“Take this!!”
As the great axe tore through the air it headed for Shizuka at terrific speeds.
“Hmph!”
But having had her parking lot destroyed, Shizuka moved even faster. She moved at such speed that Crimson had no chance of hitting her without any forecasts.
“Haaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Shizuka dashed in under the axe and thrust her hands forwards alongside a yell. She poured all of her weight and momentum into the strike and crushed the defensive spell that Crimson was wearing without any troubles.
“It's not over yet!”
But that wasn't enough to defeat Crimson. She didn't hesitate to drop her axe and pulled out a knife from the back of her waist and used it to attack Shizuka. The knife moved much faster than the axe, and it worked well in close combat. Its silver blade shone as Crimson attempted to run Shizuka through with it.
“For you to be able to beat me on your own―”
Uwah?!”
However, Shizuka grabbed onto Crimson's arm without any troubles and followed through by throwing her. Crimson wasn't even given the time to fall properly.
“―You should have stuck to being either a pure warrior, or a pure magician.”
“Impossible!!”
Along with a dull impact sound, Crimson's body slammed into ground, right next to Green.
“Guah?!”
Having been slammed into the asphalt, Crimson lost her consciousness and remained motionless. Once they lost their advantage of forecasts and long ranged magic attacks, the difference in ability was obvious. The invader girls had won after all displaying their own merits.
“Now then, what do we do with these girls...”
Despite having beaten them down, Shizuka was still boiling with anger and glared at the two collapsed magical girls.
“I wonder if they can repair the asphalt with magic. Ah, and if they can't, they'll just have to do it by hand...”
Corona House and its related facilities was Shizuka's family keepsake. And now it was also the place where her new family returned to. And having damaged that, Shizuka wasn't about to forgive the magical girls just by knocking them out.
“Quick Cast — Mystic Mist!!”
The next moment, a dense fog wrapped the two collapsed girls.
“Crimson, keep it together!”
“Ah?! They're escaping?!”
The fog was a magical mist that Green used for distractions. Neither Shizuka nor Sanae could see through it. And using this moment, Green grabbed Crimson and escaped.
“Blue Knight! Attack!”
“As you wish, my princess.”
Theia had been able to track them using the Blue Knight's heat sensor and radar, but she was only able to get off sporadic attacks. Lasers and beams would be highly ineffective in the mist, and she couldn't point ballistic weaponry towards her surroundings. While that was going on, Green activated a new spell and completely hid their presence.
“Ahh, damnit! They got away before they could repair the parking lot!”
“So she was just faking it, or maybe she woke up just then... It seems I still have much to learn.”
“Let's throw a net at them the next time they collapse.”
“Hmm, that sounds good... I'm sure the Blue Knight has some.”
“Yes. There is a net gun for riot suppression. I will prepare it.”
The party was mortified over letting the magical girls escape. But no one had said that they should have finished off the unconscious Green. They all felt that, neither this place, nor any of them, should be covered in blood.
“Shizuka-chan, leave it to us Ho-!”
“That's right Ho-! We're good at this kind of construction Ho-!”
“Really?! Please do!!”
Eventually the mist faded away. And as expected, nobody was there. The invaders had allowed the magical girls to escape.
“But still... those two withdrew awfully easily...”
Theia continued her searching as she tilted her head. Theia's intuition that the magical girls should have been able to use the cover of the mist to launch some more attacks.
“That might have been because of their forecast.”
Kiriha answered Theia's doubts.
“A forecast? At this time?”
“Yes. With the properties of future forecasts being what it is, it would be more effectively used for macro futures, like for strategy or economy, rather than the micro futures in battle. Strategically speaking, pulling back here might have been more correct.”
“Strategy... Which means that they might be gathering their forces and going after Yurika or Koutarou?”
“That's right. We should hurry up and meet with them too.”
With the magical girls’ goal being unclear, it would be difficult to figure out what they were after.
But regardless of whatever goal their enemy had, protecting Koutarou and Yurika couldn't work against them.
“Ruth, Shizuka, could you stay behind? Just in case.”
“Yes, Kiriha-sama.”
“Got it. Be careful, you three.”
“Yeah! We'll be right back with Koutarou and Yurika!”
“Then let's go, men!”
Thus, Kiriha, Theia and Sanae left Corona House in order to save Koutarou and Yurika.
Part 3
Obeying Koutarou's summons, a knight sword and a metal rod similar to a flashlight appeared.
“Clan, what's this?”
“It's a test for dual wielding! We'll start out by using Signaltin with a beam sword!”
“I see!”
“Since the left weapon is a beam sword without physical form, there's no need to worry about inertia! And since the blade can be turned off, there's no need to worry about the two swords interfering with each other!”
“You really are a genius, Clan!!”
There was a big problem with using a sword without physical form, and that was that despite having the same length as an actual sword, it was too easy to swing around and the user might end up hurting themselves.
In fact, accidents like that happened frequently when this type of weapon first appeared. As a result, there were few users of it, considering how useful it was, and it was only used as a weapon in case of emergencies for decades. The weapon didn't become commonly used until around a decade after safety devices that could withstand practical use had been developed, and the initial bad reputation had been rebuilt.
A beam sword’s safety device worked by constantly keeping watch of its blade and turning off if it was about to hit its user. The sword did however function normally when cutting down opponents. Once this safety device had been built in, the beam sword became a lot safer and more convenient, and there was a considerable amount of people that used one in each hand. Thanks to the safety device, there was no need for any special training either.
As Clan was researching how to use two knight swords, she came up with the idea of using one beam sword. If it was just one sword, Koutarou should be able to control it with one hand. That's why, if the other was a beam sword, there shouldn't be any problem.
In order to use a knight sword like a beam sword, the sword’s inertia and mass needed to be controlled and a hole in space and time was needed to be used to control its length. And the step before doing that, was using a knight sword in parallel to a beam sword.
Just as Clan had decided to test her theory in the field, she learned that the enemy was Maya. And in order to fight Maya, a beam sword was necessary, so this combination was inevitable in a sense.
“The algorithm for controlling two swords is still incomplete, so I think you'll run into some trouble! So don't put too much faith into the beam sword's automatic control! Try to use manual controls during the most important times!”
“Got it!”
Koutarou grabbed Signaltin's handle with his right hand and the beam sword's handle with his left. As he did, he heard a familiar phrase spoken to him by the artificial intelligence.
“Your excellency, Blue Knight, this ship, the Cradle, will pray for your fortune and glory in place of the nation of Forthorthe.”
“...Thank you.”
As Koutarou grabbed a hold of Signaltin's handle, a large amount of pure-white magical power began overflowing. However, the magical power overflowing this time was only a fraction of what it normally was.
The magical power is less than usual... Is it because of the contract with Aika-san? Or did her majesty save someone else?
Signaltin's magical power had weakened, but Koutarou took a stance, not really minding it too much. Excluding the special situation Koutarou was in, he was only planning on using two knight swords. Those were the only two weapons he had sworn an oath on. That's why it didn't matter if the magical power had weakened or not.
There were several mysteries surrounding Signaltin that Koutarou didn't understand. But because he believed in this sword that held Alaia's oath and emotions, he wasn't too bothered by the magical power weakening a little. He felt that it must have been needed for something else.
“I saw that white light before... but the light is stronger than back then... I see, so this is the true form?”
“That's right.”
Even if the magical power had weakened a little, Signaltin was far more powerful than normal weapons. From a realistic point of view, there was no need for Koutarou to use another weapon either.
“But, I won't let you get away like you did eleven years ago! I'll kill you, this time for sure!”
Maya showed a violent expression and glared at Koutarou. She wasn't going to let Koutarou live, not when he had rejected her and chosen Yurika over her. She was fiercely jealous and boiling with rage from having her pride hurt.
“I haven't seen you like this before...”
Koutarou readied the sword in his right hand and adjusted the grip on the beam sword's handle in his left while looking at Maya's body.
Just how little of her original body does she even have left?
Trying to figure out what parts he could attack, Koutarou used his ability to see spiritual energy that he had gotten from Sanae, and found something unexpected.
Her only remaining real body parts consisted of the insides of her head and the vicinity around the center of her body. He could clearly see spiritual energy travel between them. What was strange was that the machinery was exchanging spiritual energy as well. Seeing that, Koutarou got a bad feeling.
Could this body be...
Some amount of spiritual energy could travel through artificial arms and legs, but this was far above that level. Though it wasn't at the same amount as a living body, the flow was just like that of a real body.
I guess I'll just have to find out...
Koutarou adjusted his grip on his sword. If things were the way he suspected, Maya had an abnormal amount of power.
“Then burn the charm of this body into your eyes until you die!”
“I think I'll pass!”
The two moved at the same time. The next moment, Maya fired the gun on her left arm and the bullets rapidly approached Koutarou.
“I'm counting on you, Signaltin!”
Koutarou wished for Signaltin to use a defensive spell.
The bullets had their momentum slowed by the armor's barrier before being repelled by Signaltin's defensive spell. Signaltin had weakened, but all it had to do was stop the bullets that got past the armor's barrier, so there was no problem.
“You won't let me take it easy as always!”
“That goes both ways!”
Realizing that her gunfire wasn't effective, Maya changed the weapon on her left. The gun deployed on her left arm returned back into her body and a blade appeared on her left hand, the same as the one on her right. Maya closed in under the hopes of being able to deal more damage up close.
“Tiny Memory Flash — Modifier — Touch Trigger!”
The blades in both hands were covered in an indigo light. In the next moment, a girl's voice reached Koutarou's ear. It hadn't reached him as a sound, but as magic.
“Satomi-kun!”
“Aika-san!”
Koutarou replied the same way. The voice belonged to Aika Maki. She had formed a mental link between herself and Koutarou beforehand.
“The light on Maya-sama's hands are spells that will cause you to lose your memory! If you touch them you'll lose several seconds of your memory! It's my own and Maya-sama's specialty!”
“So it was memory loss that made it feel like I jumped forward in time!”
“Be careful! If you take that, you'll take on continuous attacks!”
“I got it! But, Aika-san...”
Koutarou laughed a little as he activated the beam sword.
“...You don't have to worry that much.”
Not only did Maki's words reach Koutarou, but her worry for his well-being did as well. It was a strong and deep feeling.
“Stupid, you don't even know how I feel!”
“What are you laughing for?!”
Maki's and Maya's voices overlapped. Maya thought that the laugh was directed at her and got even angrier.
“My little angel is quite angry! I just found it so funny!”
“Meanie! You don't have to put it like that!”
“You're making a fool of me?! I'll make you regret that!”
Koutarou's beam sword and Maya's left blade collided. However, since the beam sword didn't have a physical form, the spell cast on it didn't activate. But Maya didn't stop there this time.
Using her right blade, she tried to pierce through Koutarou.
“Take this!”
Maya thrust her blade right behind Koutarou's beam sword. By doing that, Koutarou couldn't use his right sword as the beam sword was in the way. That's why Maya was convinced her attack would hit and her expression was distorted with wicked joy.
“You're good! However—!”
But Koutarou swung his sword down anyways, and at the same time, the beam sword's blade was erased. As a result, his sword's trajectory followed a straight line.
“Tsk!”
Surprised, Maya forcibly changed the trajectory of her right hand.
This time, the right handed weapons collided. Signaltin had a physical form, but it also had the ability to dispel magic, so Maya's spell wasn't activated this time either.
“So this is what she meant... You're a lifesaver, Clan.”
“That weapon really is cheating!”
Maya kicked off of Koutarou and tried to distance herself. Koutarou followed up by slashing with his beam sword, but Maya performed a somersault midair and dodged it, escaping out of his range.
Damn, she has way more speed now...
Koutarou looked at Maya as he thought to himself. With her now artificial body, she was even faster than before. Koutarou was using spiritual energy to increase his physical strength and using Sanae's power to see his opponent's intention to attack, but Maya's movements were too fast for him. He was in a bad spot, and then he got even worse news.
“Bertorion, I've figured out a little about the opponent. Whenever that woman moves, she emits an energy pattern that matches with data I have.”
“...What is it matching with?”
“Those robots that Kii always has with her.”
By Kii, Clan of course meant Kiriha. And by robots, she meant the two haniwas she had with her. In other words—.
“Cheating goes both ways as well... That body of yours was made by the underground people, right?”
“As expected from my boy... to think you even know of them...”
Hearing Koutarou's words, Maya narrowed her eyes, and the fury in her eyes weakened. Recognizing how dangerous Koutarou was, she had regained her cool.
“But, now that you know that, you'll have to die.”
Maya showed a cold blooded smile. It was beautiful, but it made a chill run down Koutarou's spine.
“Not good... The situation might be more complex than we thought...”
Up until now, he had only had to deal with individual enemies. But since Maya's body was made from spiritual energy machinery, and Maya herself was an evil magical girl, it would mean that Kiriha and Yurika's enemies are working together. Which meant that they would eventually attack together. Just imagining that made Koutarou feel more threatened than Maya did.
Part 4
Seeing Koutarou and Maya fight, Yurika realized that she might be able to save Kanae now. Kanae was still collapsed on the floor covered with injuries, which Yurika had to heal. Kanae was holding onto Encyclopedia, so even if Yurika was out of power, she should still be able to treat Kanae. And with Encyclopedia, she would be able to support Koutarou a little.
“Sakuraba-senpai, please wait here.”
“You're going to help Kanae-san, aren't you?”
“Yes.”
“Then I'll go too.”
“If we stand out too much, Maya will notice us. And I can't protect you anymore right now, so please stay here.”
“...But... No, I understand. Please be careful, Nijino-san.”
Harumi wanted to go with Yurika. She believed that she should live and die by Yurika's side. But she realized that she would just get in the way and that they would stand out more if the both of them went. That's why Harumi unwillingly obeyed Yurika.
“I'll be back.”
“Carefully, Nijino-san.”
“Yes.”
If Nijino-san fails, then it'll be my turn... For now, I have to believe in her...
Harumi told herself as she saw Yurika off. Yurika snuck from cover to cover, carefully moving forward.
“I will stay here...”
Harumi looked back at Koutarou's and Maya's battle. She was going to warn Yurika if Maya noticed her.
Satomi-kun is strong... It's like he's the real Blue Knight...
As Harumi watched the battle, that thought snuck up on her. Harumi had some of Yurika's memories, and in some of those memories, Koutarou was fighting as well, but the way he was now was much stronger now than how he was in those memories. Harumi couldn't help but think about the blue armor he was wearing, or about the knight sword in his right hand.
Why am I so curious about those? And that crest engraved on his chest... it looks like it says 'Theiamillis's Blue Knight'... That's referring to Satomi-kun's friend, Theiamillis-san, isn't it...?
Seeing Koutarou wear that blue armor and holding that sword, Harumi grew more and more unsettled. Her feelings for Koutarou overflowed from her heart and questioned if Harumi should really just sit here and do nothing. That said, she didn't know what to do. Confused and unsettled, she watched Koutarou and Maya with great focus. Because of that, she didn't realize that the words engraved on Koutarou's chest made of use of characters she couldn't normally read.
The Blue Knight... Theiamillis's Blue Knight... Satomi-san... Koutarou-sama... What is this, I feel like I know something... What exactly do I... the sword... is that Signaltin...?
Harumi was lost in thought when a sword-like crest started appearing on her forehead. As it did, Harumi could recall all kinds of memories.
An old temple... A rusted sword... Satomi-kun and I... I revived the sword, and gave it to Koutarou-sama... Is this a scene from the play? No, this kind of place wasn't in the play... Then what? Is it from my dreams? Is it from one of Nijino-san's memories? Or is it really mine?
Each memory Harumi recalled only served to confuse her more. She felt like it might have been from the play, but at the same time maybe not. But it was quite a bit too far off to be reality. Unable to differentiate from the play and reality, Harumi's confusion didn't look like it would settle down anytime soon.
That was when it happened.
“Oh crap?!”
“You're mine!!”
The beam saber in Koutarou's left hand didn't activate properly and left him wide-open in front of Maya. Not missing her chance, Maya thrust her blade at him.
“Satomi-kun! Satomi-kuuun!”
Harumi screamed, but that wouldn't stop Maya. What Harumi needed was real power, a power strong enough to save Koutarou. If not, she wouldn't be able to teach him how to knit a sweater.
But Harumi couldn't do anything but helplessly watch as Koutarou was about to be pierced by Maya's blade. It was just a very short moment, but to Harumi it felt like an eternity. That was just how painful it felt.
“Noooooooooooooooo!! Koutarou-samaaaaaaa!!”
Unable to bear that pain, Harumi let out another scream.
“Harumi.”
Along with someone's voice, Harumi's world stopped. Not Koutarou, Maya, Yurika nor Kanae moved. Nobody could, except for Harumi. And that was just her mind.
“Who's there?!”
Unable to shift her glance, Harumi called out to the owner of the voice. But since she couldn't form any words, she simply ended up shouting in her mind.
“I am you... and you are me...”
That was when a lone girl appeared in front of Harumi. It was as if she was looking into a mirror as the girl looked just like her. But the color of her hair and the clothes she was wearing were different. The girl had silver hair, and she was wearing a pure-white dress similar to what Harumi had worn on stage.
“W-What do you mean?!”
“I'm sorry, there's no time to explain...”
The silver haired Harumi shook her head apologetically.
“Harumi... do you love Koutarou-sama?”
She turned to look at Koutarou who was still unmoving.
“Of course! That's why I have to hurry and do something! At this rate, Satomi-kun will die.”
Harumi shouted.
In this stopped world, Koutarou looked like he were to be stabbed by Maya any moment.
“I see... So you wish to save him?”
“Yes!! You don't?! Aren't you me too?!”
“Yes... I wish to save him too... I love him just as much as you do...”
“Then help me! Two's better than one! Before Satomi-kun dies!”
“...Certainly, I have the power to save him. However, I can't do it myself. All I can do is entrust my powers and memories to someone and have them succeed my duty.”
The silver haired Harumi looked down with a sad expression. She believed it was a sinful thing to do.
“Then I will do it! If that will save Satomi-kun.”
“If you succeed my duty, you will no longer be able to live a normal life. Even then, would you still do it?”
The silver haired Harumi didn't think one could be happy throwing away their normal life and casting themselves into the battle. In order to find happiness there, one needed powerful emotions and oaths, or they would live unhappily.
“Even if that's not the case, I will be with Satomi-kun, won't I?!”
“Yes. Even if you were to be separated by an endless time and a countless distance―”
“Then I don't care what happens to me! As long as I can walk alongside Satomi-kun!”
Harumi had powerful emotions and oaths. She wanted to protect the person dear to her. She wanted to teach him how to knit a sweater. And for that cause, she was ready to throw away everything.
Harumi... you too are...
The silver haired Harumi knew Harumi's feelings painfully well. It was as if she was looking at her past self. That's why she was able to make her decision.
“...I understand. Harumi, I will entrust you with everything.”
The silver haired Harumi nodded and smiled. She felt like she could trust and believe in Harumi. The silver haired Harumi's body was wrapped in a pure-white light, and in that light her body gradually lost its shape as she began to assimilate into the light.
“But... please don't forget. Your life is yours in the end. You mustn't be influenced by my memories. Just think of my memories... Yes, think of them as a product of getting into your role in the play.”
“Play? Role? Wait, could you be―”
“I am you. I was you before you. And like you, I loved the same person.”
In the next moment, the silver haired Harumi's shape completely vanished, and she turned into that pure-white light.
“Could you be, the Silver―”
The light was then poured into Harumi's body.
“Good bye, Harumi... We will probably never meet again. Live your own life... and if possible, stay with him until the end, this time...”
Once she had become one with the light, Harumi felt a love as deep as her own for Koutarou.
Part 5
Koutarou and Maya's battle was growing more intense and fierce by the second. Koutarou made up for the overwhelming difference in speed with skill and experience. Adding in the armor and the power of his weapons, they were about equal.
“This is bad Bertorion! I can't keep up with the errors the algorithm is spitting out anymore! Take some distance and let's reset it!”
“She's not the kind of opponent that would give me the time to do that!”
Koutarou shouted at Clan and called out to Maki in his mind.
“Aika-san, for how much longer will the spell you cast on me last?!”
“You're just about out of them! Maya-sama still has plenty of time left, so if you fight after you've run out, you probably won't be able to block her attacks!”
“Kuh, I guess I'll have to continue like this then!”
Koutarou muttered to himself in a frustrated tone and swung Signaltin at Maya. However, Maya quickly moved out of the sword's arc.
“What's the matter boy?! Your movements are getting duller!”
“Not yet!”
The saber won't make it in time! I'll just continue like this!
Holding the beam sword in his left hand, Koutarou swung his fist at Maya.
Since this had been an unexpected attack, Maya was struck by Koutarou's fist. But she wouldn't just let herself get punched. As she was falling back, she swung her blades down and left large scars on Koutarou's armor.
“How are you going to repay me for this, boy? You've dented the area around my chest.”
“Alert Message. The damage of the chest armor has exceeded 78%. The next attack to the same part has a 90% chance of mortally wounding the wearer.”
Maya's and the armor's complaints reached Koutarou's ears at the same time.
Both Koutarou and Maya could beat one another if their attacks hit. Maya had less magical power than before, so her magical defenses were weaker, leaving her with no means to protect herself from Signaltin. And at the same time, despite Maki having cast some protection on Koutarou's armor, it was unable to withstand Maya's spiritual energy infused attacks. With both sides only one hit away from defeat, speed and technique continued to clash.
“...What's so bad about it? Now you have an excuse to get bigger breasts.”
“Hmm, I was worried that you wouldn't be able to go on, being out of breath and all, but if you keep talking like that, then it looks like I can enjoy this date for a little longer.”
However, this situation was more disadvantageous for Koutarou. Unlike Maya, whose body was almost nothing but machinery, Koutarou was flesh and bone beneath his armor. Because of that, his movements were more limited and his body grew more exhausted the longer the fight continued. If the evenly matched battle continued on for much longer, Koutarou would lose. And since she knew that, Maya was showing a confident smile.
Crap... do I have to finish this right now?
The system controlling his two swords was letting out cries and his armor was continually warning him. On top of that, Koutarou was out of breath and exhausted. He wouldn't be able to go all out for much longer.
But... how do I catch her? I'm this powered up and I still can't catch up.
Having gotten a mechanical body, Maya's movements surpassed the limits of man. Since Koutarou couldn't escape from the bonds of his body, he was stuck at that limit. So in order for him to catch up to Maya, he needed to come up with a good idea. But Maya wasn't going to give him time to think.
“There's still plenty of time! Let's have some more fun, my dear boy!”
“Don't give me that crap! I just escaped from a date with your disciple!”
Maya's blades had a red light around them as she dashed forward with a smile.
“Satomi-kun, she has attack spells cast on both of her blades! Don't fall for her words, she's going for the finishing blow!”
“So she's coming! In that case—!”
Koutarou changed his fighting style in accordance to Maki's advice.
Since Maki knew Maya and magic very well, she had saved Koutarou several times already. And now, her advice gave him his last chance of victory.
If she's going to finish me off, she should be targeting the damaged chest plate!! As long as I know where she's going to be attacking....!!
“Ooooooooo!!”
Koutarou swung Signaltin, putting all of his force behind it. The blade cut through the air and headed straight for Maya.
“Woops! That was close♪”
However, Maya lowered her posture a little and dodged it.
But that was just what Koutarou was aiming for. His goal was to limit Maya's mobility by swinging Signaltin. And if she was now aiming for his chest, then there weren't many paths she could take.
“Now it's my turn!”
Maya headed down the path Koutarou had expected. Koutarou moved his left and placed his beam sword in Maya's path. Now as long as the blade activated, the events would develop exactly the way he had expected.
However.
Along with a noisy sound, the armor reported an error with the beam sword. Because of his overuse of the malfunctioning system, the beam sword had lost its function at the worst possible time.
“Oh crap?!”
“You're mine!!”
With the beam sword failing to activate, Koutarou was left completely defenseless as Maya pressed her charge. The blade in her right hand had an ominous red glow to it. She was aiming for Koutarou's torso, the spot where the armor had cracked.
“Bye bye, boy. I loved you.”
Maya thrust her right hand forward.
Koutarou steeled himself. He would die the moment she thrust her blade through his armor. It was now an unavoidable fact.
“Noooooooooooo! Satomi-kun, Satomi-kuuun!!”
Koutarou could hear Maki screaming in his mind. At the same time, Maya's hand was pushing forward and closing in on him. Maya's face twisted with malice and a dark joy spread throughout her chest.
“Noooooooooooooo!!”
It was in that moment that Signaltin began glowing brightly. And it was as powerful as the girl's voice that filled the area.
“Kyaaa?!”
Maya's body received a large shock and she was sent flying. It was as if she had been thrown back by the glow and the voice.
“What?!”
However, it had no effect on Koutarou at all. He simply stood there, wrapped in that light. He noticed that the light had a pulse. Sensing that the pulse was similar to that of a person's heartbeat, a girl's name appeared in Koutarou's head.
“...This, is... her majesty's...? Her majesty, Alaia's...?”
He felt the warmth he had felt in the past when Alaia had been controlling Signaltin directly. That's what he felt right now, but that was impossible. Alaia was an endless time and a countless distance away. There was no way she could be here. But Alaia's sword was radiating. Her oath and wish was still glowing.
“Your majesty!!”
Guided by the light, Koutarou turned around. There, he saw a lone girl standing. It was a girl with long hair and a crest of a sword glowing on her forehead. At first, it had looked like her hair was silver colored.
“Alaia― No! Is that?!”
But he quickly realized he had made a mistake. The girl's hair was black. The person standing there was not the person he was looking for.
“...Sakuraba-sen...pai?”
Temporarily disappointed over the person not being Alaia, Koutarou soon found himself surprised again.
Why is Sakuraba-senpai controlling Signaltin?! And that crest on her forehead is the same as her majesty's... What is going on?!
While Koutarou was too confused to say anything, Harumi herself started shedding tears and struggled to speak.
“...Thank god... he's alive... Satomi-kun is alive...”
With the crest still glowing on her forehead, Harumi shed tears of relief. Koutarou who was about to die was alive and well. Relieved by that, Harumi continued crying.
“...I'm glad... I'm really so glad...”
“Sakuraba-senpai, what is this? How are you controlling Signaltin?!”
“...I don't know... I don't know what is going on...”
Harumi shook her head at Koutarou's question. She was confused as well. She had seen that Koutarou was about to lose his life and felt like she had to save him. She had prayed for that. And by doing that, light suddenly started overflowing from her body, causing Koutarou's sword to glow and to send the enemy flying. This came as a surprise to Harumi as well, as she simply continued to cry.
“...But... Satomi-kun... there's one thing... that I do know...”
Harumi looked at Koutarou with tears falling from her eyes.
“...And that is that from now on, I will protect you―”
A strong resolve and love resided in those eyes.
And driven by that intense and deep emotion, she continued.
“―and always be at your side...”
In that moment, the crest on Harumi's forehead started glowing even brighter. At the same time, Signaltin grew even more powerful.
What is going on?! This isn't her majesty, but Sakuraba-senpai, yet, she can control Signaltin as well as her majesty... No, even better?!
Signaltin was radiating light.
The glow was brighter than anything Koutarou had ever seen.
“...So win, Satomi-kun! I will protect you, from any enemy and any hardship!”
And as those words left Harumi's mouth, all the confusion and hesitation vanished from Koutarou's mind.
There is no point in asking who and why!! If the rusted iron scrap is still glowing like this, if the oath and emotion put into this sword still remain—!!
“—Then I will use my life and everyone's powers to protect our future!! Sakuraba-senpai!!”
Having been separated by an endless time and a countless distance, the previous relationship of master and servant had changed into that of a senior and junior, and connected that oath and emotion once more.
Part 6
Having regained her balance, Maya faced Koutarou without flinching, despite Signaltin continuously growing in power.
“No matter how much magical power you have, it doesn't mean a thing if you don't hit!”
Maya attacked Koutarou. She charged at him with the fastest speed she could possibly move at. The mechanisms were screeching and the system was giving her countless warnings, but Maya swung her blades widely as if to shake all of that off of her.
Signaltin had grown more powerful, but it had been weaker to start with, so now it wasn't all that different from what Maki had reported before. On top of that, Maya was convinced she wouldn't be hit. Having surpassed the limits of man, Maya wasn't scared of her opponent.
“...You misunderstand.”
“What?!”
Signaltin easily blocked Maya's blades. Of course, Maya was moving too fast for the sword itself to block, but her attack was stopped by the barrier that Signaltin was emitting.
Why?! It's not that much more powerful than Maki had reported, so why can't I break through this force field?!
Maya was astonished.
The spiritual energy weapons that Maya was using should be able to break through magical defensives quite effectively. According to Maki's report on Signaltin's capabilities, they were powerful enough to break through any defense Signaltin could output. So even if Signaltin had grown a little more powerful, her weapons should still be able to destroy the barrier. Yet despite that, the blades didn't stand a chance. It was an unthinkable situation.
“This is that type of sword.”
“I see, that girl is doing something, isn't she?!”
Maya shifted her look to Harumi who was behind Koutarou. Harumi had her eyes closed and her hands clasped together as if she was praying.
Maya could see a line of magical power traversing from Harumi to Signaltin. She had also received a report on Harumi from the last time Maki had fought Koutarou. That's why she knew that Harumi could control some unknown form of magic. So it was hard to imagine that Harumi was unrelated to all this.
“...That's right.”
Realizing that he wouldn't be able to hide it from Maya, Koutarou confirmed her suspicions.
“This sword was made to be used by two people. It simply hadn't been able to until now. That's why you only know of the incomplete form of this sword. You misunderstood, Maya.”
Koutarou would wield the sword while another controls its magical power. They would control the magic and release it for attack or defense, and also change its properties depending on the opponent’s offense and defense. They also used the sword's surplus magical power to use magic and support the wielder.
The two work as one.
And that is Signaltin's true form. It was the power that Alaia gave to Koutarou to protect him.
“Impossible!”
“Go on, Satomi-kun! Do whatever you want! I'll keep up with you!”
“That's why if you think that the sword's power just got stronger, then―”
Harumi's voice was conveyed to Koutarou through the sword as he casually swung the sword at Maya. As he did, the magical power being used to protect him changed shape and increased his attack range. The range was altered based on how Maya was moving, making it harder for her to dodge. It also had an electric property to it, causing the most damage possible to her.
“Kyaaaaaa?!”
The strike broke through the magical barrier Maya was using and shocked her. The impact was terrific and she was thrown to the ground as she was being shocked.
“―that's what'll happen.”
That was where Koutarou stopped his attack, but Harumi didn't stop there. She started incanting something in ancient Forthorthe.
“Gather, spirits of the wind, gather as an arm and destroy my enemy!! Roar!! Air Sledgehammer!!”
As a result, Signaltin's surplus magical power turned into a giant hammer of air that fell down onto the collapsed Maya.
“H-How is this even possible?! This is completely different from before!!”
Maya desperately moved her body in an attempt to dodge Harumi's attack.
She managed to avoid the attack just barely, and that was only thanks to her superhuman speed. If not for that, she probably would have lost right there.
“I'm sorry, Satomi-kun! I was a little too slow!”
“No, that's great, Sakuraba-senpai!”
Koutarou smiled and readied his sword. He actually knew the reason why Harumi's attack had missed. Even though Maya's body was mostly machine, Harumi was hesitant to attack another person. That's why Maya had been able to avoid it. But Koutarou felt that was fine. Fighting didn't suit Harumi, Koutarou felt the same way he did about Yurika.
“I will attack! Please focus on supporting me, senpai!”
“Okay, I understand!”
Koutarou chased after Maya and charged forwards. As Maya got up, she changed her blade weapons into guns and aimed for Harumi.
“Then I'll just do this! That girl is your Achilles' heel!”
And unlike Harumi, Maya didn't hesitate to pull the trigger. She fired a large amount of bullets towards Harumi who was in her praying pose.
“Protection From Soul Energy!! And please, Encyclopedia!!”
However, two barriers stood in the way of the bullets. Yurika had cast a barrier to protect Harumi from spiritual energy, and she also used the cane in her hand to cast a spell to defend from physical attacks. Thanks to the two defensive spells, Maya's bullets were completely blocked.
“Are you okay, Sakuraba-senpai?!”
“Thank you, Nijino-san!!”
“Satomi-san, I will protect Sakuraba-senpai! Don't worry!”
Yurika no longer had enough magical power to defeat Maya. However, she still had enough to cast a few defensive spells, and she had also gotten Encyclopedia from Kanae. That's why she would be able to protect Harumi for a while.
“Yurika, I'll leave that to you!”
“Yes!”
She would do what she needed when she had to. That's the kind of person Yurika was to Koutarou.
“Curse you, Yurikaaaaaa!!”
Having had her attack stopped by Yurika and being shown Koutarou's trust on her, Maya was driven by an intense fury and jealousy. Being thought of as below Yurika by anyone was an unbearable humiliation to her.
“I'll kill you, kill you all! All of you!!”
Fury and jealousy turned into hate and and drove Maya to attack. She no longer looked anything like the mind controlling magician, Dark Navy.
“Maya-sama...”
Watching over the battle, Maki's feelings were quite complex.
I'm sure I was once like that too...
Looking at Maya the way she was right now made Maki feel sad. She also felt sorry as she thought that she must have looked like this in the past as well. That's why Maki made a wish.
“Satomi-kun, please don't kill Maya-sama...”
“Don't worry, I understand. She is still your master, right?”
Maya was getting emotional and was full of openings, and all alone.
Koutarou on the other hand remained calm and was fighting with his friends.
The conclusion of this battle was already decided.
“Thank you, Satomi-kun...”
“No, that really helps. I'm a half-assed soldier that can't kill people on my own.”
In order to actually finish the fight, Koutarou raised Signaltin above his head. At the same time, he focused on Kiriha's gauntlet on his left hand and created a fireball. He used Sanae's power to see Maya's movements, and he was being protected by Ruth, Theia and Clan's armor, along with Yurika's and Maki's magic. And Shizuka was protecting the place he wished to return to even now.
Ten versus one... Sanae said allies of justice could gang up on their foes, but... this might be overdoing it a little...
Koutarou swung his sword down on Maya, aiming for her arm.
Signaltin cut straight through Maya's blades and chopped off her right arm.
“Guah?!”
And as she momentarily stopped, the fireball produced by his left gauntlet attacked her.
The fireball exploded by the center of her body and sent her flying.
“Uh, d-damnit... To think I would be this cornered by anyone other than Nana!”
Having been slammed into the ground, Maya used her remaining left arm to lift her body. Though the armor plate covering her torso had been destroyed and revealed the machinery behind it. Maya had taken a lot of damage, and was unable to properly move.
“Checkmate.”
Koutarou lowered his sword as he faced Maya.
“Just give up and go home.”
“...Kill me. If you don't, I'll just come after you, over and over again.”
Maya's body was seriously damaged, but the hatred in her eyes was as livid as ever. Maya directed a fierce killing intent towards Koutarou, as if he was a lover that had betrayed her.
“I bet you will...”
Koutarou was aware of the risk, but he couldn't kill Maya. And so, he returned the sword to its sheath.
Maya took this as an insult and her hate grew even more powerful.
“You'll regret this!!”
“Yeah. I've always been regretting. That's the kind of life I've lived. I'm used to it.”
Koutarou smiled wryly as he said that and turned his glance towards a concrete pillar nearby.
“And are the two of you hiding over there going to fight me too?”
Koutarou spoke out towards the pillar, and behind it, two magical girls, Crimson and Green, appeared. However, neither of them looked like they were going to fight.
“Are you joking? If I'm going to fight against a monster like you, I'll have to make proper preparations first.”
“...We only came to save Maya-san.”
“I see. Then take her and leave.”
Koutarou couldn't sense any intention to attack from their words or from their auras. That's why he took several steps back and gave them room. The girls ran up to Maya with their eyes filled with hostility towards Koutarou.
“Are you okay, Maya-san?”
“I'll lend you my shoulder.”
“...Yes...”
Maya somehow managed to stand up with the help of the two girls. But even then, her focus was directed at Koutarou rather than her allies. Unable to admit that had been the reason for her loss.
“...Boy, what is your name?”
“Koutarou.”
“...Koutarou... The next time we meet... I will definitely kill you, with my own hands...”
“If that's what you want, then don't come alone.”
“Hmph.”
Maya turned her face away from Koutarou and left with the support of the two girls. Eventually, they disappeared into the darkness of the far side of the abandoned building.
“...Bertorion, are you okay with just letting her go like that?”
Clan had a concerned look on her face on the other side of the communication device.
“Clan, is the person you want to make a vassal the kind of guy that would one-sidedly kill the other party?”
“Of course not! I was just worried for your safety! That's why I was wondering if you were fine with not capturing her?!”
“...Just believe that I'll win next time too. That's what I've decided to do.”
Our future is bright.
That is what Koutarou had told Maki, and he had decided to believe in that as well.
“...Geez... you really don't understand a woman's feelings.”
“I hear that a lot.”
As Koutarou laughed, a space-time hole appeared in front of him.
“Clan?”
“I'm retrieving Signaltin. Theiamillis-san and the others are on their way to you right now.”
“That's too bad.”
Koutarou realized what Clan was trying to do and pushed Signaltin into the hole. The hole took Signaltin with it and vanished.
“Now just do what you have to do before Theiamillis-san comes.”
“Sorry for always making you help me.”
“You're not joking. Just when was this role assigned to me...”
The hologram of Clan puffed up her cheeks a little in dissatisfaction. Seeing that expression, Koutarou chuckled and honestly stated what he felt.
“Well, that would be around the time you became a worthy princess.”
“S-Stupid!”
Clan's face turned red as she yelled at Koutarou before she one-sidedly turned off her communication.
“I got her angry again... I was trying to praise her too...”
Koutarou smiled wryly as he looked at the hologram not projecting anything. After Koutarou turned off his communication, he decided to heed Clan's advice and do what he had to do.
“...Now then... where should I start explaining... There's not much time either...”
Before Theia arrived, Koutarou had some explaining to do to the several people looking at him.
