Chapter 91: A deadly sword that seems completely unbecoming of the protagonist
ㅤ”With such a thing!”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis creates a barrier of light, completely blocking the rain of Ether Shots I unleashed.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Defense magic!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”That’s right. My forte lies in defense. A technique I honed to protect my older sister.”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis said with a grin.
ㅤThe handsome young man with the black mushroom cut looks to be about the same age as me.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then why did you listen to what someone like Imusoda had to say!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Because I’m an excellent magician. I could sense how powerful he is. It’s not rational at all to oppose him. Whether I like him or not, I have no choice but to bend the knee and obey. Commoners wouldn’t understand.”
ㅤ
ㅤI fire more Ether Shots.
ㅤCracks appear in Lewis’s barrier.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm, you seem to be a remarkable magician. I understand why he wanted you.
ㅤBut you’re in the way. I want my older sister to come to that person’s side as well. To work together under him and occupy a pivotal position in his coming kingdom.
ㅤLike it or not, that’s the only rational way we can be happy!”
ㅤ
ㅤI dash towards Lewis, holding the Black Steel Sword in one hand while firing Ether Shots.
ㅤ
ㅤMy Ether Shots shatter Lewis’s barrier.
ㅤ
ㅤI run as if slicing through the fragments and slash at Lewis with my sword.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oops.”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis quickly draws his sword and intercepts my attack.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I aspired to be a knight once, you know. I can handle a sword, though not as well as my older sister.”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis deflects my sword and unleashes a sharp thrust.
ㅤ
ㅤI parry the thrust with the Wand of Regret in my left hand and slash with the sword in my right.
ㅤ
ㅤThe sword strikes a barrier that appears around Lewis’s shoulder.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Skilled with both sword and magic, you’re quite the versatile adventurer. It seems Cretias’s defeat wasn’t a fluke.
ㅤAlright, since you seem busy, I’ll play with you.”
ㅤ
ㅤI jump back and fire a warning Ether Shot.
ㅤLewis easily intercepts it with his barrier.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Don’t you think Sherry-san will lose to Cretias?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”My older sister, lose to that thoughtless, conceited man?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I agree with the thoughtless, conceited part… I guess!”
ㅤ
ㅤI try slashing again, but Lewis parries with his sword.
ㅤ
ㅤ（In terms of pure swordsmanship, Lewis is slightly better.）
ㅤ
ㅤHe uses a knightly style of swordsmanship, while mine is an extension of a thief’s dagger techniques.
ㅤIn a head-on clash, I’d be at a disadvantage, but a thief’s swordsmanship is all about avoiding direct confrontation in the first place.
ㅤ
ㅤSwordsmanship is about even overall, and my magic is completely blocked.
ㅤAt this rate, the battle between me and Lewis will reach a stalemate.
ㅤ
ㅤBut,
ㅤ
ㅤ（I’ve learned from my mistake of magic being ineffective against Cretias!）
ㅤ
ㅤI touch the Black Steel Sword with the Wand of Regret.
ㅤIt’s a movement very similar to Cretias touching his sword with his left hand.
ㅤ
ㅤAnd then, I chant the spell.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, lingering spirits of regret, dwell within this blade and cleave my foe, finding solace in the appeasement of your grudges!”
ㅤ
ㅤAlong with the spell, the sword in my hand becomes jet black.
ㅤNegative human emotions rise from the sword like heat haze.
ㅤ
ㅤ”━━What!?”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis’s movements stop, surprised by this, as expected.
ㅤ
ㅤI attack Lewis with the Ghost Sword.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Guh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis instinctively blocks with his sword.
ㅤ
ㅤIn a clash of blades, I would normally be at a disadvantage due to the difference in strength.
ㅤ
ㅤHowever,
ㅤ
ㅤ”What is this!? My sword is being corroded━━!?”
ㅤ
ㅤJust as Lewis said, a black “something” flows from the Ghost Sword, which is locked in a clash, into Lewis’s sword.
ㅤIt’s difficult to find the right words, but if I had to say, it’s like “miasma.”
ㅤConcentrated negative human emotions spread slowly, like mold consuming food.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Kuh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis forcefully deflects the sword and jumps back.
ㅤ
ㅤAnd then,
ㅤ
ㅤ”━━Ether Shot!”
ㅤ
ㅤI don’t forget to follow up with an attack.
ㅤ
ㅤI close in on Lewis, who blocked the magic with his barrier, and slash with the Ghost Sword.
ㅤ
ㅤLewis blocks the Ghost Sword with his barrier.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th-That’s quite a troublesome trick you have…”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Not as much as yours.”
ㅤ
ㅤI press my attack with the Ghost Sword.
ㅤ
ㅤLewis blocks everything with his barrier.
ㅤ
ㅤNo, he’s forced to.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Because if he blocks with his sword, it will 『rot』, even if it’s made of metal.）
ㅤ
ㅤLewis’s judgment is correct.
ㅤ
ㅤBut if he only uses magic for defense, he won’t be able to attack me.
ㅤ
ㅤLewis desperately tries to attack with his sword in one hand while blocking the Ghost Sword with his barrier.
ㅤPerhaps due to his concentration being divided, his sword strikes are too light.
ㅤI easily deflect them with the Wand of Regret in my left hand.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Damn it, a mere warm-up act is taking up so much of my time…!”
ㅤ
ㅤHans groans in frustration.
ㅤ
ㅤSince my attacks are also being blocked, I can’t finish him off, but,
ㅤ
ㅤ（This is fine by me.）
ㅤ
ㅤBearnov is about to overpower the two knights.
ㅤSherry-san is also barely holding her own against Cretias’s onslaught. Every time Sherry-san is in danger, Heinlein-san with the Wind Feather Bow keeps Cretias in check.
ㅤ
ㅤIf Bearnov defeats the two knights and comes to my or Sherry-san’s aid, the tide of the battle will turn dramatically.
ㅤAll I have to do is maintain the stalemate and wait for that moment.
ㅤ
ㅤ（It’s not that I can’t attack and defeat Lewis in one go… but thinking about Sherry-san…）
ㅤ
ㅤI also want to extract information about Imusoda, and if possible, capture him alive.
ㅤ
ㅤWhile I’m thinking about such things,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Bearrrraaaagh!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Gah!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Guhaa!”
ㅤ
ㅤBearnov sends both awakened knights flying with a single blow.
ㅤSince the plan was to capture them alive if possible, it seems he used a tackle instead of his claws, slamming them against the dungeon wall.
ㅤ
ㅤ（At that speed, it feels like they might be dead… but if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.）
ㅤ
ㅤI’m not a humanitarian.
ㅤI’d rather not hold back too much, fail to neutralize them, and end up in a painful situation later.
ㅤ
ㅤBearnov cautiously confirms that the two knights are unconscious before turning his attention to the other battle.
ㅤ
ㅤThe fight between Cretias and Sherry-san has become a dizzying exchange of knightly swordsmanship, making it difficult for Bearnov, whose weapons are his claws and massive body, to intervene.
ㅤ
ㅤBearnov turns his gaze towards Lewis.
ㅤLewis is pinned down by my Ghost Sword and Ether Shots, unable to move.
ㅤWhat will happen if Bearnov attacks him in this state?
ㅤ
ㅤ”What!?”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis also notices Bearnov’s gaze and becomes flustered.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Now!”
ㅤ
ㅤI seize the opportunity and strike.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Kuh!?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe Ghost Sword, aimed at his shoulder, tears through Lewis’s robe.
ㅤLewis staggers back, clutching his bleeding shoulder.
ㅤ
ㅤBearnov tries to charge in, but━━stops.
ㅤ
ㅤI, who was also about to follow up with an attack, involuntarily stop as well.
ㅤ
ㅤMoreover, even Cretias, who was engaged in a fierce battle with Sherry-san, stops his swordplay, distances himself from Sherry-san, and looks at Lewis.
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san, who should have had an opportunity, is also unable to move, her gaze drawn to Lewis as if by magnetism.
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤ”Huh… Kukuku… Time’s up, Lewis.”
ㅤ
ㅤ
ㅤIt was none other than Lewis himself who muttered those words.