Kays Translations

Chapter 36- The Sword Demon [Middle]

“Your Majesty…”

The words uttered by the Sword Demon for the first time.

“Forgiveness――――! 』

Spreading its four arms like a pair of wings, it dashed forward with wide strides.

In an instant, it approached the two of them, and Ren stood in its way.

It was a sight that made the two of them doubt their own eyes. After the crimson giant swords passed by, multiple residual images of reddish-black light remained. Each swing of the sword produced a sound that resembled a lament, indistinguishable whether it came from a man or a woman.

Surely, this was the case. The Sword Demon’s giant swords were enhanced by some kind of magic.

(If that’s the case, I should just kill it――――!)

Ren wielded the iron magic sword and unleashed the Star killer technique. The impact exceeded his expectations, causing Ren’s posture to collapse momentarily, but the reddish-black energy surrounding the giant sword diminished slightly.

“Gwoooooooh!”

However, it was different for the other three swords. Only one of them had an effect, and even that was minimal. The pressure from the Sword Demon increased, and the iron magic sword shattered before the second swing could be endured.

Gritting his teeth, Ren and the approaching crimson giant sword, as well as Licia, who was about to jump in and help, witnessed the overwhelming might of the general crushing them.

“Gooooh! Gaaaah!”

The intimidating voice that accompanied each swing of the giant sword.

Even when Licia used sacred magic with all her might, it felt as if she had borrowed the power of her future self from several years ahead…

At least they managed to prolong their lives with this.

However, the waves of violence could only be described as such.

Ren, too, had not given up.

But he was certain that fighting like this would not lead to victory.

(…If only that… if only that were there.)

The proof of the Sword Saint in the art of formidable swordsmanship, the technique that could deal significant damage to the Sword Demon, should be possible if only it were present.

But it was so far away, with no sign of being within reach.

No matter how much he imagined the nature of the technique and its power…

“Gooooooh!”

“Kuhhhhh!”

While trying to defend against the approaching giant sword, Ren’s iron magic sword shattered once again.

As he watched the black iron-colored blade disintegrate before his eyes, sweat trickled down his cheek, and he endured various emotions bordering on death, Ren gritted his teeth.

Seeing Licia’s worried face as she fought nearby, he made a gamble.

“――――Incinerate!”

The air cracked open as the Flame magic sword, revealing its hilt, emitted a powerful aura. As he unsheathed it and swung it upward, the flame of the Dragon King enveloped the Sword Demon.

“Ugh!? 』

Unlike when Ren used it in the forest, this flame was golden.

Indeed, with this, he could withstand even a general of the Demon Lord’s army.

“Licia-sama!”

“Yes!”

The Sword Demon swung its arms to escape the flames. As most of its consciousness was focused on the flame magic sword, Licia slipped into its flank once again.

The giant sword that attempted to intercept the White End’s strike aimed at the Sword Demon’s waist was blocked by the flames that emerged from behind Licia. The intense flames unleashed on a single giant sword caused it to be deflected. However, the Sword Demon reached out and grabbed Licia’s sword.

“That hurts a lot, you know!”

A sound resembling the evaporation of water emanated from the hands of the Sword Demon, accompanied by white smoke.

Groaning in pain, yet magic energy gleamed in place of the Sword Demon’s eyes deep within the helmet. The massive sword swiftly regained its aura.

It was a one-sided battle, with only Ren and Licia exhausting themselves. Even though they managed to strip away the power of the giant sword with the Flame Sword, it quickly returned to its original state.

“Your Majesty —- forgiveness!! 』

The Sword Demon wielded its four swords, unleashing powerful magic spells. Suddenly, the ground behind the two of them crumbled, and debris filled the air, surrounded by ominous magic. The mountain surface erupted everywhere, akin to the Tsurugi Rocks in the Ashton village. Each swing of the giant sword unleashed crimson lightning toward Ren and Licia.

“Licia-sama, I have a plan,”

Ren said, stopping her as she tried to create a barrier with holy magic.

“What should I do?”

“Support me with holy magic as you have been doing until now.”

“Understood. What do we do after that?”

“We endure until the right moment. At that time, no matter what happens to me, prioritize piercing the Sword Demon.”

“Putting everything into the final strike, I see.”

For the two of them to have a future, Licia needed to conserve her strength. This was the only option. Additionally, since the Sword Demon’s attacks came from too many directions, the Shield Sword was ineffective.

“I will definitely support you until the end,”

Licia felt a sense of reliance for the first time. She never expected those words to come from him.

However, she would celebrate later. If she became too elated, she would end up dead.

With the imminent attacks from the Sword Demon, Licia trusted Ren without hesitation and began using sacred magic to prepare for the upcoming moment.

Then,

“Haahhh!”

Swinging the Flame Sword horizontally, it generated flames that burned the debris to ashes. Small fragments grazed Ren’s cheek, causing it to bleed. Before he could even blink, the lightning arrived, but Ren blocked it with a swing of the Flame Sword.

Amidst the continued onslaught, the Sword Demon raised all four giant swords and unleashed an unprecedented surge of magic power…

“Oooohhh!”

In response to Ren’s roar, the Sword Demon also shouted and swung its giant sword. As the combined waves of the swords intersected, they transformed into a spiraling barrage of colossal light projectiles.

In that moment, Ren realized that he couldn’t defend against it with the Star killer.

Even with Licia’s assistance.

However, for a split second, Ren felt warmth behind him.

“Ren.”

Licia smiled.

Without doubting a single word he said, she believed in him.

“Just wait a little longer,”

“Yes. Please don’t worry about me, Ren. Just focus on what’s ahead.”

Realizing that he couldn’t defend against it, what was he going to do?

Since he couldn’t use the Sword Saint’s technique, what was the alternative?

Edgar… Ren tightly grasped the hilt, strongly envisioning the special technique of a sword master who used magic.

It was far from complete. The sense of accomplishment he gained from training was minimal. However, Ren was more focused and heightened in every aspect than usual.

If they failed, both of them would die. So, he had no choice but to succeed.

With the light projectiles rapidly approaching, Ren swung the Flame Sword high above his head…

“――――!? “

In this world, it was the most beautiful flame.

Sparkling golden sparks shimmered like diamond dust. The golden wall that appeared before the two of them completely erased everything unleashed by the Sword Demon.

“…Seriously, it’s too amazing.”

Though he believed in it, whether he was surprised or not was another matter. With a sword enveloped in golden flames in hand, Ren’s voice began to move forward.

“Licia-sama!”

“Yes, let’s go!”

“Alright! Let’s end this, Sword Demon!”

The Sword Demon’s feet were sealed by the golden flames. While the armor didn’t dissolve, its glossy surface gradually disappeared.

However, the Sword Demon brought his arms closer to embrace his upper body and once again attracted the magic power and debris surrounding the square. Despite Ren wielding the flaming sword to incinerate everything that approached him, the debris and crystallized magic power continued to assail him without end.

He was a monster who had served as a general in the Demon King’s army.

Even though he managed to defend against a powerful attack once, there was no guarantee there wouldn’t be a second time.

As Licia was about to attack from behind, the Sword Demon, with the hint of anxiety disappearing from his back, swung his four enormous swords. Knowing that Ren was his primary enemy, the Sword Demon let out a fierce battle cry, calmly and ruthlessly aiming to kill Ren.

Even if Licia were to attack from behind, his first priority was to kill Ren. The flaming sword shattered, leaving him defenseless.

“Kuh――――!”

Ren suffered from a headache due to the depletion of his magic power but desperately summoned the magic sword again. He constantly used powerful techniques, but he was woefully inadequate against the debris, lightning, and waves of enemies flying through the air.

It was impossible for a single boy to continue enduring numerous natural disasters.

“You――――!”

Ren inwardly smiled wryly, saying, “Don’t screw with me!”

He wanted to complain about why he and Licia were in such a situation, why the shattered statue of a god had caused it. But he didn’t because he hadn’t given up. Instead of wasting time complaining, he wanted to think about how to deal with the situation.
Even as he fought desperately while retreating, the Sword Demon already surpassed his movements.

The Sword Demon completely sealed off all of Ren’s actions before he could release the flames.

(Stop making that face.)

Ren felt a tightness in his chest as he saw Licia’s anguished expression over the Sword Demon’s back.

It seemed as though she thought he was going to lose. Even if it wasn’t the case, Licia continued to worry about Ren.

Seeing that, Ren felt a heavy burden.

Moreover, it was his own actions that caused Licia to have such an expression.

Regardless of the reasons that led to this situation, it was entirely his fault that he was making her worry during the midst of battle.

That’s why he hated it.

He hated the opponent who was mercilessly trampling all over him.

Yes, Ren glared at the Sword Demon with sharp eyes.

――――I haven’t been afraid of death for a long time.

Summoning the shield magic sword, he extended his arm holding it.

He layered multiple layers of magic shields and stopped retreating, thrusting forward. In his other hand, he summoned the flaming magic sword again.

During this battle, he had avoided dual summoning due to exhaustion and tactical considerations.

“Ooooooh!”

“You thought you could easily kill me right in front of you… Sword Demon!”

“……!?”

Filled with contradiction, the Sword Demon was driven by fear when faced with an obvious weakling.

Nevertheless, the Sword Demon swung his massive sword with the sole intention of tearing apart Ren’s body. With a single swing, he shattered layers upon layers of magic shields, and with the second swing, he aimed for Ren’s neck, chest, and abdomen, aiming to strike through the shield and sword.

(I’m alive. That’s enough.)

The extent of Ren’s injuries was unimaginable. Ren grimaced in pain, but he managed to evade the third swing by spinning his body like a spinning top.

Only the fourth swing remained, the final massive sword.

Ren mustered all his remaining strength and intercepted it with flames that could be described as pouring everything he had into it. The clash of swords erupted in a shower of golden flames. With the momentum, Ren swung the fiery sword downward toward the Sword Demon’s shoulder.

“Aaaaaaaah!”

Whether it was a cry of pain or a roar, Ren himself couldn’t tell.

What was clear was that he had managed to sever one of the Sword Demon’s arms. The energy pouring out from the severed limb tainted the surrounding air with darkness.

Leaning on the stone pavement, Ren looked up at the Sword Demon, grinning defiantly, while the Sword Demon raised his massive sword.

“Please… just stop.”

With a voice filled with anguish, Licia, her vision blurred by the bleeding, watched as Ren still attempted to strike back.

Licia also rushed forward to stop the Sword Demon, but even with her skills, she was no match for him without Ren at the frontlines. Without Ren, their chances were slim.

Crawling on the ground a little distance away, Licia looked at Ren. He, too, looked back at her. It was unimaginable how deep and fatal his wounds were, considering the extent of his bleeding. It would be a mortal wound for an ordinary person. He could only be surviving thanks to the remnants of sacred magic.

“…Please, stop.”

Clutching the gravel in her hand, tears streaming down her face, Licia screamed, witnessing the scene of the giant sword descending upon Ren.

“…Don’t hurt my precious person anymore!”

Then, a light appeared.

Radiating a silvery light, glass-like wings emerged from Licia’s back.

Before Ren could even comprehend what was happening, he could feel the divine presence emanating from those mysterious wings, rendering him speechless.

The wings, spread wide, indeed resembled lines of glass.

The particles of light emitted by the wings reached the Sword Demon, melting away his armor. Multiple flashes of light were released. The Sword Demon, preoccupied with dealing with the flashes of light rather than killing Ren, swung his massive sword to intercept them.

“Guh, Ooooh…!?”

However, the flashes of light pierced through the Sword Demon’s body.

In contrast, Ren’s body, upon touching the flashes of light, immediately healed as if there were no life-threatening injuries to begin with.

Ren’s vitality seemed to be returning.

“…Ooooh…”

Licia’s attacks didn’t cease.

Amidst the astonishment, Ren calmly observed a certain fact within his field of vision.

Something was off.

The situation was too inexplicable. Ren looked at Licia’s face.

“Licia…-sama?”

Licia, at some point, had curled up, holding her head with both hands. As if against her will, flashes of light continued to emit from her wings.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

Licia found herself in a white space.

In this white space, she floated, curled up like a baby in her mother’s womb.

From somewhere, she could faintly hear the sound of bells. It was the same melody she had heard before she and Ren wandered into this seal.

“……”

Where was she drifting towards?

Without understanding anything, she couldn’t resist. She felt as if she were being distanced from her beloved Ren, and that frightened her.

“…….”

She couldn’t utter a word. She couldn’t even change her posture to look around.

Midway, Licia began to feel as though someone was calling her. She didn’t know who it was, but they seemed to be trying to take her somewhere. It felt like a woman’s voice.

“……”

She couldn’t say no.

She wanted to say it, but she couldn’t resist anything.

Gradually, she reached a point where she couldn’t even think anymore.

As if she herself were being erased, losing her individuality.

Even though she was scared, she couldn’t do anything.

Her senses faded away, and her consciousness began to wane.

She could no longer contemplate what would become of her in this state.

“……”

But then…

“….?”

She felt another arm being placed upon the arm that embraced her body.

“――――Licia-sama.”

A voice resounded through the white space, anchoring Licia, who had been drifting away.

Even though she had closed her eyes and should not have been aware of anything, Licia could understand the voice calling her.

Her senses, which were supposed to have disappeared, and her consciousness, which was on the verge of fading, returned. She felt as if she could open her eyelids.

“――――Licia-sama!”

Another voice, this time clearer.

…She wanted to return to his side. Amidst this incomprehensible situation, that was the only thing Licia could think clearly.

However, the sense of being taken somewhere still remained.

She was scared, so scared…

“…”

As if resisting,

“…Ren.”

She called Ren’s name. She opened her eyelids and looked around.

She couldn’t see whatever had been calling her until now, but the brilliance filling the surroundings was divine, radiant, and overwhelmingly godlike.

However, she resisted and responded only to Ren’s voice.

“Ren!”

The white world cracked.

I firmly thought in my heart that I wouldn’t leave Ren’s side.

Then, the magic stone in her chest, which should be there, throbbed painfully. She pressed it with both hands, but the pain persisted, causing her cheeks to distort.

It felt as if she was being commanded by a strong force.

“…Stop.”

I still didn’t understand anything, but it was scary.

Being by Ren’s side was not because of some unknown light.

“…By Ren’s side…!”

The compelling force that appealed to the magic stone continued to increase.

However, that compelling force was overridden by another force, as if it were claiming Licia as its own.

That force, in turn, completely rejected her, defying the initial compelling force.

She felt as if she was enveloped in the presence of another compelling force – no, his presence.

『――――Licia! 』

As the voice resounded, the white world shattered into pieces.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

“……Ren?”

Licia no longer had wings on her back and had returned to her usual appearance.

When she woke up, she saw Ren looking down at her while cradling her in his lap.

Relief was visible on his cheeks as he desperately called out to her. He reached out his hand and gently touched her cheek, smiling.

“It’s not good to fall asleep in the middle of a battle… Licia.”

“…Ren, my name…”

“I planned to do that after we left here, but you didn’t wake up for too long.”

“Hehe… It’s not fair for you to suddenly call me by my name just because I didn’t wake up.”

“It’s because you suddenly fell asleep. I’m sorry, but I won’t entertain any objections.”

Licia placed her hand on Ren’s hand on her cheek.

She didn’t know that his wounds had healed, so she used the sacred Magic with a desperate resolve, and it had more effect than before.

“Listen, Ren…”

Ren nodded.

“…Don’t give orders to people’s magic stones without permission. You idiot.”

“I didn’t do that… What happened? That incredible attack earlier…”

“I don’t know either. But it seems like you ordered my magic stone.”

“Eh, I didn’t order you, Licia-sama! Besides, what do you mean by giving orders to magic stones!?”

“Hehe, I don’t really understand either.”

That strange compelling force from earlier was completely gone, and Licia somehow felt that it wouldn’t happen again in the future. She felt that as long as she was with Ren, there was no doubt it wouldn’t happen. It was as if her hidden magic stone was also conveying that.

“Now, what about the Sword Demon?”

“He’s still here. With your flash of light and my flames… he’s over there.”

The Sword Demon was beneath the statue of the god.

Driven away by the flash of light and flames, he stood there on guard. Ren made Licia sit down and stood up, walking alone.

To end this battle.

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