Kays Translations

Chapter 71: The Two Swords That Carry His Feelings for Them

“You’re an interesting guy. You fight for a woman?”

“If it’s for the heroines, I’m ready to change the world.”

“I admire that spirit. Even the most foolish of desires, if pursued to the end, become convictions. Then show me! Change this world—with those two swords of yours!”

Kenya and Osiris clashed once more.

This battle had already transcended their previous fight—it was on an entirely different level.

At this point, there was no one left in the arena who could truly comprehend what was happening.

Just watching it felt like it was wounding the soul.

The sound of metal clashing alone sent shivers down one’s spine, making the heart scream.

“Thank you, Reina. Because of you, I was able to grip my sword once more! Your voice reminded me why I fight!”

“!? …You’ve gotten stronger!?”

Kenya slashed, pouring everything into his attacks, unleashing a relentless barrage.

Osiris faltered—without a doubt, Kenya had become faster than before.

With his mind now clear, he was producing the most optimal solutions one after another.

“You were still holding back… Just how much more do you have… Guh!”

“I wasn’t holding back. I was truly fighting with everything I had. But now, I remember! I remember why I fight!”

“Guh!”

“It was never about something as grand as fighting for the world!”

Kenya once again opened the door to the pinnacle of concentration.

But this time, he took another step beyond—into a realm so dazzling it was blinding.

There, standing before him, were two girls, smiling at him.

At the core of his heart, the ones who had always supported him were the two heroines he had fallen for completely.

The tsundere princess…

“The one unshakable pillar within me has never changed since that day!”

And the cool, reserved ice queen.

“Ngh… Hahaha! Amazing, absolutely amazing, Sword!”

Osiris realized he was gradually being pushed back.

His machine was beginning to take damage.

Feeling the pressure, Osiris raised his voice in exhilaration.

This knight had suddenly appeared in this world, risen to the rank of Lord’s knight in just six months, and now stood before him—the strongest knight in the Empire.

His past was a complete mystery. His origins were uncertain.

Yet, even as he struggled to keep up, Osiris felt a sense of joy.

Fighting an opponent who might still be beyond his reach, despite giving everything he had—it thrilled him.

“What… What are you!? What the hell are you!!?”

Kenya shouted his answer.

“I’m a shut-in!!”

“What nonsense—Guh!!”

“But after coming to this world, after meeting Kaguya, after meeting Reina, I changed! The shut-in gamer that I was—changed!!”

Osiris and Kenya, both at their limits, exchanged blows at an extreme level, ascending even higher.

The sheer intensity of their battle was beyond anything seen on a normal battlefield.

They were reaching a realm no one had ever attained before.

But in the end, only one of them stepped through that door.

Both had gained experience from this battle.

Yet, the one who truly crossed the threshold was Kenya.

Osiris was left behind.

Slowly but surely, Osiris could no longer keep up with Kenya’s speed or his swordplay.

“I’ve realized that this world—this world that was once just a game—is real! That there are so many people suffering in this world!”

“That’s the nature of the world!! The strong and the weak! The world has always been divided into two! Those who rule and those who are ruled!!”

They clashed. Osiris was being pushed back.

And the difference between them was undoubtedly—

“That’s why I will change it!!”

—The strength of his resolve.

His feelings for KOG, his feelings for the two heroines.

That passion had now surpassed all limits.

And in that moment, it bore fruit, fully blossoming.

Alone, the boy stood at the pinnacle—a height no one else had ever reached.

But he was not lonely.

There were those who had supported him, those who had loved him.

There were people who called his name.

Watching this unfold, Odin trembled and shouted.

His instincts screamed at him.

Even a novice could see it—Kenya had reached the absolute peak of the sword.

“Why… Why!!? Why, Lord!!! What is your knight!!?”

And from the very beginning of the fight—

Even when Kenya had fallen—

There was one boy who had never doubted his victory.

That boy now stood.

He had unwavering faith in his knight’s triumph.

Lord Asgard rose and shouted.

“Go, Kenya!!!”

“That’s why—I will change this cruel world! For the heroines!! I will become the strongest knight in the world! And then—!”

“With these two swords—”

Kenya’s left-hand sword struck Osiris’s blade, sending it flying high into the air.

“Even fate itself can be cut down!”

“I will change this world into one where I can just flirt with them both!!”

Kenya’s right-hand sword pierced Osiris’s KOG, Gungnir.

His two swords carried his feelings for the two girls.

With his blade extended straight ahead—

With the sword of Takemikazuchi—

He pierced through the red-and-black giant.

“Magnificent…”

And Gungnir stopped moving.

Kenya had pierced through Osiris’s right hand, rendering Gungnir completely inoperable.

As he pulled his bloodstained blade free, Gungnir slowly collapsed.

At this moment, the victor—

The strongest in the world—

“…Th-The match is over!!! An unbelievably dramatic conclusion!! The one who emerged victorious from this long and grueling battle! The one who conquered a fight unlike any ever seen before! The one who has won the Empire’s Sword Martial Festival and claimed the title of the strongest knight in the world!!!

“Sword Sylphid!!! The knight of Lord His Highness claims victory!!”

The otherworldly knight—Mitsurugi Kenya—had claimed the title.

“UOOOOOHHH!!!”

The arena exploded with deafening cheers.

Some, freed from the overwhelming pressure that had gripped them, wept at the sheer intensity of the battle.

A fight beyond fights.

And the one who emerged victorious was the youngest knight at 16 years old.

He had defeated the Empire’s strongest knight and claimed the title of the world’s strongest.

The Kenya who had awakened that day—

Today, he had ascended even further.

He had bloomed completely, unlocking his full potential.

He had reached the very limit of human capability.

“YEEESSSS!!”

One man, more thrilled than anyone else, clenched his fist and shouted.

Lord Asgard struck a triumphant pose and ran straight toward the battlefield.

Toward Takemikazuchi.

And Reina and Sieg followed, dashing out together.

The roaring cheers refused to die down as the group rushed from the audience seats into the arena.

“Kenya-kun!”

Reina climbed the ladder and pulled Kenya out of the cockpit.

His battle had been fierce—his life was now in danger.

However, inside—

“Kenya-kun! Kenya-kun!!”

“Ah, Reina… Thank you. I won because of you…”

Kenya was still conscious.

“I was… so worried, really…”

Reina wept, while Kenya gave a weak smile.

“Reina… Thank you, I heard you. I heard your voice.”

“Hic… I thought you were really going to die…”

Reina hugged Kenya tightly, crying.

And then—

“I love you, Kenya-kun. I love you so much. I will never leave you again. I will never take my eyes off you again!”

Reina kissed Kenya.

A hot kiss, slightly salty with tears.

“I feel like I could die of happiness.”

“Please don’t joke like that right now, seriously.”

And so, supporting Kenya, Reina helped him down from Take-Mikazuchi.

“You did well, Kenya. Truly! Leave the rest to us and rest.”

Lord and Kenya bumped fists.

“Ahh, I’m at my limit. The rest is… up to you…”

“Kenya-kun!?”

“He’s fine, Reina. He has a pulse, he just lost consciousness. I’ll carry him. Seriously… He really is amazing, my son.”

“Oh? So you acknowledge their relationship now, Sieg?”

“It’s not about acknowledging or not…”

“Papa, I’m going to marry Kenya-kun. I want to be with him forever.”

Sieg looked at his daughter, Reina.

Her face was bright red, and she gazed at Kenya with deep concern.

The emotionless face of the so-called “Ice Princess” was gone—now, she was nothing more than a love struck girl.

The ice had melted into tears, and the flames of love burned fiercely.

“That’s how it is. And honestly, I can’t even oppose it anymore. Is there a better knight than him?”

“Hah. No, there isn’t. He is undoubtedly the strongest in the world.”

Sieg and Lord exchanged smiles.

Then, Sieg carried the sleeping Kenya to the emergency medical ward.

Meanwhile, Osiris was also being transported.

He had lost an arm and was unconscious from massive blood loss.

And then, left behind, was a single member of the imperial family.

Still unable to stand from the throne, trembling uncontrollably.

“…I lost?”

Odin could not stand for some time.

“Why? Why did I lose?”

Odin repeated in disbelief, and then—

“Damn itttttt!!!!!”

The usually composed Odin let out a furious scream.

Beside him, a beautiful woman trembled.

“I-I-I-impossible… Impossible!! My strategy was perfect! Why?! O-Odin-sama! This must be a mistake! Odin-sama!”

Seeing her panic, Odin drew his sword.

“No, no!! Why?! Why?! Why?!!! Why for such filthy blood?!!”

Catherine shrieked, her voice shrill and pitiful.

Then, realizing Odin was looking at her, she threw herself at his feet, licking his boots.

“Odin-sama? Please? I’ll do anything! Anything! Please! Please!!”

“Die, you useless wench.”

“N-noooooo!! I don’t want to dieee!!!”

Catherine, still licking Odin’s boots, was run through and died instantly.

Her red blood spilled onto the floor, and just like that, she was gone.

Her final expression, grotesque and pathetic, befitting the end of a wicked witch.

And then—

“Don’t get cocky, Lord. This is temporary. I’ll leave this country to you for now. Lielbert. There won’t be a next time.”

Odin sheathed his sword after looking at the silently bowing Lielbert.

“…Yes.”

And so, Odin, Lielbert, and their followers left the venue.

(So, Sword-kun… Will we meet again on the battlefield…?)

That day, many powerful nobles decided to pledge their allegiance to Lord.

The citizens, the soldiers—even those who had once supported Odin were now moved.

That battle was just that intense.

No one could dismiss it.

Even those who had once supported Odin found their hearts swayed by the fight.

Strength is justice—the people of the empire, who held that belief, had their convictions shaken.

That was the significance of the Imperial Sword Festival, the festival of martial might.

And the ruler of the knight who won that battle—Lord—was someone they could now support.

With this, their military strength was now evenly matched.

Perhaps, they even had the upper hand.

“Thank you, Kenya. Now, I will become emperor.”

And with that, Lord returned to his seat.

Odin was no longer there.

“He’s gone, huh, brother…”

Then, Lord took hold of the microphone.

To make a declaration to the entire venue.

“First, let me express my utmost gratitude to my knight, Sword Sylphid.”

Lord’s speech began with words of thanks to Kenya.

“Those who witnessed this battle firsthand, and those watching through the broadcast—you all must have seen it. A true life-or-death struggle. And my knight, Sword Sylphid, has emerged victorious!”

Once again, cheers and applause erupted throughout the venue.

“And now, my brother Odin has left this place. As declared by His Majesty the Emperor, the winner of today’s Imperial Sword Festival is to be the next emperor! In other words—!”

He raised his voice even further, as if to engrave his words into their minds.

“I am the 100th Emperor! As Lord Asgard, I will lead you all!”

“Uooooooohhh!!!”

The venue erupted in cheers.

The next emperor had been decided. The charismatic Lord had become emperor.

The people, who had been living in uncertainty, now felt relief—if it was Lord, they would not lose.

If an undefeated commander became emperor, surely they would win the war.

“And today, for the first time as emperor, I will make a promise to you all.”

Lord began to speak.

Kenya, who had been imprisoned, knew nothing of the world’s shifting tides—of how the world had changed drastically.

“I swear—I will protect the Asgard Empire! I will guide you all without fail!”

While Kenya was held captive, a new, greatest enemy of Asgard had emerged.

Asgard had already been declared war upon.

That enemy had formed a massive allied nation, splitting the world into two opposing forces.

That enemy was—

“The World Union!”

Every nation except Asgard had joined forces to form the largest united front in history, now baring its fangs at Asgard.

But as of now, the world’s strongest knight still did not know.

The knight who had fought until his mind nearly burned out was now fast asleep.

Unaware of who he would fight next—

Yet preparing for the next battle.

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