Kays Translations

Chapter 27: The Priest of Regeneration [Before]

A mountain path once walked.

They ran through the night mountain path, illuminated by magic lights, including the return journey, hurrying to where the temple towered.

Approaching the stairs leading to the square.

The square overlooked a sky full of stars, brightly lit by their light alone.

Even the stones used in the temple were faintly glowing.

At the end of the stairs, a man was standing as soon as they entered the square.

Orphide, who had arrived earlier than Vane and the others, heard their footsteps and said.

“I see. This is your doing, isn’t it?”

Orphide smiled coolly. Vane and the others glared at Orphide, each readying their weapons.

Orphide paid it no mind and continued into the square. 

Along the way, he snapped his fingers, generating a pitch-black magic power beneath Vane and the others’ feet. It was like a bottomless swamp trying to engulf their feet, but when Squall used his magic to repel it, Orphide launched his next attack on the stairs. He swung his arm, and the magic power he had wrapped around it was fired like bullets. Kaito, this time, blocked the multiple magical bullets with Airia.

While Orphide adjusted his glasses in the square, the lenses reflected the starlight eerily.

“So, you’re the priest in question after all.”

“I’m not sure who you’re referring to by ‘the one in question.'”

Information about Orphide, including his appearance, had been shared. There was a Demon Cult member who possessed an abnormally high regenerative ability and wielded powerful destructive magic.

“In any case, I don’t have much time to play around,” 

The oppressive pressure from Orphide reached Vane and the others through the air, terrifyingly powerful.

“Everyone,” 

Vane said, and they nodded in agreement. This was the conclusion of Chapter 2, where they would fight Orphide here. This battle against an opponent with unprecedented strength in this world war.

“First, let’ me give you some credit. You’re truly one of the Seven Heroes’ descendants.”

Vane questioned Orphide’s words. 

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? There’s no need to hide it, right? It’s an impressive deduction, even for an enemy. I was surprised that you had hidden the Water Goddess’s Ring somewhere in advance. And…”

Before Vane and the others could make sense of it, he continued.

“It seems you also have skilled knights hidden below.”

They still didn’t understand. They didn’t know that knights had been dispatched to Windea or that someone had hidden the Water Goddess’s Ring somewhere.

Vane and the others didn’t even know where the Water Goddess’s Ring was. According to legend, it was hidden somewhere, but that’s about all they knew. They hadn’t explored the way players could in the Legend of the Seven Heroes, so they didn’t have any information like Orphide and his group.

“Oh?” Orphide looked slightly surprised.

“In any case, you don’t seem to be involved with the heroic family.”

Without answering Orphide’s words, Vane spoke.

“Did you expect to get the Water Goddess’s Ring on the Water Holy Day?”

“Yes. I thought that as time passed, the Water Goddess’s power would increase, and the situation would change. But it seems that’s not the case. The fact that the ring was taken out before today is proof of that. How they managed to take it out… I wonder.”

Orphide’s purpose was just as they expected, but the fact that the ring wasn’t there was still puzzling them.

The story Orphide was telling now was the reason for the commotion he had caused. In this world line, he had once tried to take out the Water Goddess’s Ring and failed. He then thought that this special day might be related, which led him to come to Windea.

The report he had heard from a certain country the other day said that it couldn’t be taken it out. However, that was before his demon cult member, who had left Windea, heard that someone had taken it out somewhere.

As soon as Orphide arrived in Windea, he was surprised to hear from the demon cult member that the ring was missing.

On the other hand, the legend of the Seven Heroes was slightly different. The demon Cult hadn’t been able to find the Water Goddess’s Ring, and Orphide had speculated that it might appear in the temple or the spring on the Water Holy Day.

No one could fully understand these differences, nor could anyone explain them. What was certain was that a battle was inevitable.

“How foolish. Instead of attacking other towns, you should have focused your efforts here.”

Sarah made a reasonable point.

“I had my reasons too. I came to retrieve the Sacred Relic, but there were only Leomel’s forces waiting. …But in any case, I would have faced Leomel again sooner or later.”

“Did you think we took the Water Goddess’s Ring because it wasn’t there?”

“Exactly. However, since you seem not to know, what can you do?”

Orphide sighed briefly.

“To enhance the effect of Elven Tears, I wanted that ring.”

A voice that no one could hear, a whisper.

He reluctantly rolled up his shirt sleeves a bit, as if to show it. He had an expensive-looking silver watch on his left wrist.

“No, it doesn’t change the fact that I’m going to kill you.”

Although slim, he had a muscular, fair-skinned body. He unbuttoned one extra button at the collar.

Priest Orphide began to move his body lightly. He held his hands up and used the thick, dark red aura of magic power like gloves.

The first to act was the man himself…

“Now, let me show you how adults kill!”

Orphide’s arm pierced deeply into the cobblestone of the square. Waves of magic power swept up debris and rushed toward Vane and the others.

“Get ready!” 

Kaito Leonardo created a wall.

Orphide advanced with annoyance, furrowing his brow and saying, “How annoying,” as he advanced toward the magic power wall created by Airia. When Airia’s magic power wall was pushed aside, he moved on.

“Your attacks won’t get through!” 

“Very well. Then endure it.”

The priest’s strength in martial arts was formidable. Though he had repeatedly used his fists, he now unleashed refined kicking techniques.

The expanded magic power wall suffered even more damage than in the first battle.

A rapid attack. His arms, wrapped in denser, reddish-black magic power, struck the shining wall created by Airia repeatedly.

“What’s with this guy’s power!”

“Oh, are you already struggling?”

“Don’t be stupid! I can’t afford to take it easy right now!”

Despite his words, the tremors were intense. Kaito stood firm to protect his comrades, blocking the consecutive attacks.

Airia remained unscathed, but her light wall was different. It made a sound similar to the breaking of glass when it cracked, and a large crack appeared.

“What about my magic?”

Squall was skilled in healing magic but could also use offensive white magic. In terms of magic power alone, he couldn’t compete with Lizred’s magic, nor did he have the physical power of Vane and Charlotte’s high-powered attack magic.

However, there was one thing.

Sacred power often had an effect on those who relied on evil magic, like the demon cult. He released a dozen arrows of light. As soon as they were released at the speed of the wind, one pierced Orphide’s fist. However, it didn’t make him bleed.

But it did have an effect, slightly slowing Orphide’s movements.

“Go, Vane!”

Vane, who had somehow managed to get behind Orphide, now acted.

Having undergone training through battles with the servant of the Giant God, Wadatsumi, he had gradually gained the ability to use sacred power. It was light.

The power of a hero, a special effect against those allied with the Demon king.

Different from the power used by the Holy Palace Knights. The shining magic power, unlike anything before, enveloped his sword. The silhouette of the blade was filled with light.

Orphide deftly rolled his body to avoid Vane’s sword, kicking Kaito’s wall aside in the process, levitating himself and regaining his balance.

Even so, the tip of Vane’s sword grazed Orphide’s neck, vaporizing the blood that flowed out in an instant.

“Don’t forget about me!”

Charlotte, who had changed her position without anyone noticing, had a bow drawn deeply and was ready.

The released arrow carried a sharp, blade-like wind and was released with a swirling motion, piercing Orphide’s shoulder.

“I had heard the rumors, but I’m truly surprised that the blood of the Hero Ruin still lingers!”

The arrow that pierced his shoulder was embedded in the cobblestones. Orphide’s wound instantly closed.

“…What’s with his power?”

“Charlotte-senpai, as I’ve heard. It’s an abnormal regenerative ability.”

“Yes, I know, but… with that…”

“It doesn’t mean we can’t do anything. My power certainly worked.”

No matter who attacked or wounded Orphide, they couldn’t make him bleed.

But Vane’s sword had undoubtedly made him bleed.

“In that case, there’s no choice but to continue.”

But that wasn’t the only reason.

Vane had heard valuable advice from Ren.

As Vane, who was speaking in a short amount of time, looked around,

…Who should he focus his attacks on?

Orphide calmly considered his priorities and fixed his gaze on one person.

He aimed and lowered his hips, then charged.

Squall was surprised, but Kaito stood in his way.

“Do you think you can do something?”

“Yes, I thought I could.”

“Don’t underestimate me!”

“No way. It’s an objective fact.”

Following his cool smile, Orphide unleashed a series of brutal punches.

Kaito, who was protecting Squall, couldn’t move, but there were six other people present.

However, Orphide had a different target in mind.

He abruptly changed the direction of his attack.

Wrapping one of his arms in even denser magic power than before, he swung it down towards the cobblestones in a certain direction.

Standing in that direction was….

“…………..”

Charlotte Lophelia.

Magic energy surged towards her, a long-range attack specialist.

However, because Orphide’s attack was continuously directed towards Kaito, he couldn’t create a wall to protect Charlotte.

While Lizred tried to offset the impact by releasing fire magic, the residual force reached Charlotte.

Her body was sent flying several meters, and Sarah rushed over.

“Charlotte! Are you okay!?”

“I…I’m okay, but…”

Charlotte had twisted her ankle, and her face contorted in pain.

“I was planning to take both legs, but…”

Orphide, targeting that moment, quickly changed direction towards Sarah and Charlotte.

Sarah swung her sword to protect Charlotte.

“Haaaah!”

Radiant Light Strike. A combat technique that those who mastered Sacred Sword Arts could use.

It could be used by those who had reached the level of Swordmasters, and when used, it drained the opponent of their vitality.

Vane also used Radiant Light Strike, launching it alongside Sarah.

While Orphide’s arms, clad in dense reddish-black magic power, blocked their attacks, it had an effect.

Vane and Sarah exchanged a glance and nodded with determination.

…It happened just after they left the Imperial Capital.

While Deus was flying through the night sky, everyone was gathered in the control room.

“Oh, Ashton?”

“I heard from Ren, the surviving adventurer from the area that was attacked. It’s just a rumor he picked up, but the more clues, the better.”

“I see. But… what’s the real story?”

“You know, Kaito-kun, you won’t know unless you try.”

“I get it! But seriously, will it work on that priest everyone’s talking about? He’s supposed to have an incredible regenerative ability, right?”

Charlotte, speaking up in the control room, addressed Kaito’s doubts.

“It’s fine, isn’t it? Let Vane-kun and Sarah-kun give it a try. Just use their Radiant Light Strikes against the magic power Orphide has enveloped himself in.”

Directly confronting Orphide’s regenerative ability in a head-on battle would be almost meaningless.

However, his power was not limitless, and each time he used his special abilities, it consumed magic power. If they couldn’t diminish his physical strength, then they should target his magic power.

Rather than wasting time and effort trying to deplete Orphide’s stamina with attacks other than Vane’s, it would be better to focus on a precise target, rather than waste effort.

Radiant Light Strike was a combat technique that used the magic power enveloping the sword to weaken the opponent’s magic defenses and inflict damage.

While a normal sword used by a hard sword user had almost the same effect, Radiant Light Strike, as the name suggested, also possessed the power of light.

These combined effects had the greatest possible impact on Orphide’s regenerative ability.

The seven of them were now confident in how they should fight.

The main focus should be on Vane and Sarah.

“Hmm.”

Orphide exclaimed in admiration.

He hadn’t expected them to find a way to effectively wear him down in such a short time. Truly, they were the descendants of the Seven Heroes.

“But not bad at all.”

However, Orphide was still formidable.

Orphide released a kick that traced a circular path and moved away from them, creating distance between himself and the two swordsmen.

Even though he was alone, this man was able to hold his own against all seven of them.

Charlotte, struggling with pain, stood up and drew her bow.

Kaito once again stood in front of everyone with his shield raised, but…

“At this rate, we’ll be at a disadvantage.”

He wasn’t saying this pessimistically, but rather, to suggest that if they didn’t think of something, they might lose.

While Radiant Light Strike had shown some effect, it wasn’t enough.

“We can make him stagger with our attacks, but if we don’t somehow deliver Vane’s full-strength blow, I don’t think we can defeat him.”

If they could somehow land a fatal blow on Orphide…

The problem was, there was no opening.

Think about why I have this power in the first place.

Kaito nudged Vane with his elbow, as he encouraged himself.

“Kaito-senpai?”

“You’re not fighting alone. Don’t forget that we’re fighting as a team of seven.”

Orphide launched another attack.

For the second, third, and fourth times, Vane and the others were noticeably fatiguing.

Unlike Orphide, who seemed to have an endless supply of magic power, the seven of them were becoming breathless, and Kaito was starting to show signs of fatigue as well.

Vane’s sword, as well as the Radiant Light Strikes from him and Sarah, had exerted their power.

However, Orphide’s resilience was gradually pushing the seven of them into a corner.

…What should they do?

As panic began to appear on Vane’s face, Lizred took the initiative.

She held her staff horizontally in front of her eyes. 

“Buy me as much time as you can!”

“How much time do you need?”

“As much as you can possibly get!”

After answering Vane, she closed her eyes and began chanting ancient word, offering a prayer to the god who governed magic power, flames erupted from her staff.

Kaito, Vane, and Sarah.

The three who formed the vanguard stood to protect Lizred, tirelessly guarding against Orphide’s continuous attacks.

One second, two seconds.

They thought they had bought much more time, but in reality, only five seconds had passed.

Orphide’s straight punch and sharp kick were about to take the lives of the six of them.

The moment the six of them had been waiting for came after thirty seconds had passed since they were instructed to buy time.

“How about this! If you can wipe out this little girl’s magic in one go, go ahead and try it!”

Dragon’s Breath.

A high-level fire magic named for its resemblance to the flames unleashed from a mighty dragon’s mouth.

From Lizred’s staff, flames with a diameter of nearly ten miles appeared, writhing and taking on the shape of a dragon’s face at the tip as it raged with tremendous power. Like a majestic dragon raising its head.

At this moment, Orphide, who had been facing it, opened his eyes wide and put all his strength into his body for the first time.

“I never expected you to wield such power!”

Orphide, who received the flames resembling a dragon’s head with his arms spread wide, had beads of sweat on his forehead for the first time. The way Lizred pushed her arms forward seemed as if she were pressing the dragon’s breath against Orphide.

The result was clear.

Unable to suppress the pressure of the Dragon’s Breath, Orphide was pushed back with tremendous force.

As Orphide’s body hit the rocky ground, the flames that had not been fully created from the staff continued for hundreds of miles and rushed toward Orphide’s body as if swallowing him up.

Exhausted from repeatedly using his boundless regenerative ability, Orphide clicked his tongue.

Suddenly, Lizred dropped to her knees.

To Vane, who tried to rush to her side, she said.

“Don’t worry about me! Think of something now!”

Everyone nodded at the girl’s cry, and in the short time it took for the Dragon’s Breath to dissipate, they came up with a plan.

And so, the seven of them decided what to do to counter Orphide, working together.

“Now that it’s decided, we can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away!”

First, Squall fired multiple arrows of light, and almost simultaneously, Charlotte fired a series of arrows covered in even sharper wind than before.

“I won’t miss for sure!”

The arrows targeted Orphide’s limbs, which were wrapped in magic, even within his body.

Orphide, who had been slammed into the rocky ground, had not yet shown himself, but because they had seen his silhouette in the midst of the dust cloud, they aimed for that.

In the midst of the dust, Orphide’s body had shaken a few times, and he let out a short groan.

“Just because multiple people are attacking at once, don’t take it the wrong way!”

Sarah swung her sword after the dust cleared.

Perhaps due to the effects of the Dragon’s Breath, Orphide was panting as he looked at Vane and the others. His potent regenerative power was still intact, but he was clearly exhausted.

That alone was enough.

It was worth the seven of them attacking with all their might.

Once, a single arrow fired by Charlotte pierced Orphide’s hand.

“Gah!”

His body swayed.

“Not done yet!”

Sarah’s Radiant Light Strike struck two and three more times.

When the weary High Priest of the Demon Cult tried to glare at Sarah and the others. 

“———–Light Bullet!?”

A bolt of light approached him at ultra-high speed from the corner of his vision, piercing his temple.

“Even I can do this much!”

Nemu, who wasn’t particularly suited for combat, used a homemade magic device that fired bullets. It had an effect of interfering with the enemy’s magic power and hindering their movements.

While it didn’t look like it was consuming much, the effect was there.

“A descendant of the seven heroes…!”

However, Orphide was a formidable member of the Demon Cult.

He was in a position of authority, leading many disciples.

Clad in red-black magic power from head to toe, he stood over Sarah, Charlotte, Squall, and Nemu, all of whom he had blown away, in a majestic manner.

However, he was still worn out.

…Did you forget about me?

As if to say that, Lizred grinned and wiped the large beads of sweat from her forehead to her cheeks, letting them fall to the ground.

She raised her staff again and began chanting ancient words.

She thought it was an attack that couldn’t be ignored, and when Orphide tried to step forward and kill Lizred in an instant,

“I’m sorry, did you forget about me too?”

“Leonardo’s Shield!”

“Sarah said this too, but don’t be mad just because there are seven of us!”

Kaito generated a wall from Airia and pressed Orphide’s body with it.

Kaito’s whole body was creaking with muscles.

However, he resisted Orphide’s pressure as if putting all his strength into each and every strand of his hair.

“Damn you…Leonardo’s descendant…!”

There’s only a wall in front of him. However, there’s no room to move sideways, and behind him is the rugged rock face. The enemy’s escape route is right in front of him, the only one.

But Kaito held back Orphide. Without needing to disperse his power to protect someone, Kaito was solely engaged in a power struggle with the priest in front of him.

If Airia weren’t here, the situation might have been different.

Even if it was a pointless topic, Airia’s strength was a factor in this contest of strength.

…At that moment, back here.

“You remembered well! How powerful Arkei’s magic is!”

The Dragon’s Breath once again.

A more powerful mass of flames than before was released from the front of Lizred’s staff.

Kaito put all his strength into it one last time, pushed Orphide’s body away, and withdrew before he was consumed by the flames.

The Dragon’s Breath wriggled like a snake in the air and skillfully swallowed only Orphide.

“…Now it’s up to you.”

With a sound that might have been a soft thud, Lizred lost consciousness as she fell.

During that time, the Dragon’s Breath continued to rage, scorching Orphide, who repeated regeneration within the flames, over and over and over again.

After a longer attack than before, but without Orphide being pressed against the rocky ground this time, his body was now pushed toward the direction of the temple.

The temple floor melted, and at the deepest part, the flames finally disappeared.

Unlike the first time, Orphide tried to withstand the Dragon’s Breath.

“Haa… haa…”

Orphide, who was struggling to breathe, assumed the worst.

How many of them had launched attacks in this series of events? That’s right, six people.

One… he still hadn’t.

The descendant of Hero Ruin, Vane, had been waiting for this moment.

“Orphide!”

There was no escape, it was certain.

Despite his ability to regenerate, the exhaustion throughout his body was too intense, making it difficult for his legs to move as he wished. Even when facing dozens of Holy Palace Knights, he hadn’t experienced this level of exhaustion.

As expected of the descendants of the Seven Heroes.

How many times had he died in this series of attacks? He couldn’t count them all, but Orphide still enveloped both arms in magic.

He looked at the tip of the sword glowing with light and said.

“Are you saying I underestimated you…?”

He smiled defiantly at this moment.

He had always strived to be powerful.

Facing Vane, who aimed the tip of his sword at him, Orphide grabbed it with both hands.

A direct confrontation, a final showdown.

“Before His Majesty returns, I cannot die!”

“Ugh…”

As Vane gritted his teeth and exerted his strength, the light grew brighter.

With each increase in light, Orphide smiled as he endured the increasing pain. Through his hands gripping the sword, he conveyed the magic power that enveloped his arms to Vane.

Vane bore the pain from the depths of his body, and the hands holding the sword gradually turned red like burns.

However, he continued to push the sword forward without fear.

Gradually, as the light and dark magic powers clashed…

The light shattered the dark magic.

When Orphide’s bare skin came into direct contact with the hero’s power, all the magic disappeared from his body.

The light had won.

The end of the battle was in silence.

Orphide knelt on the cobblestone with a thud.

“…Indeed, it was a troublesome power.”

Vane’s sword pierced Orphide’s collarbone, causing blood to flow. There was no stopping it, and the wound didn’t seem to be closing.

Orphide couldn’t support his body and looked up at the ceiling of the temple.

When Vane withdrew his sword, the black magic from the priest’s back flew away like bats.

The priest lay his back on the stone floor.

“…We did it.”

In front of Orphide, who had completely passed away, Vane used up his strength and knelt down.

“”””Vane!”””

The voices of his comrades overlapped, and they all gathered around him.

Sarah supported Vane from the side.

Kaito, Charlotte, Nemu and Squall brought the unconscious Lizred to join them.

Everyone was smiling at the end of this victorious battle.

About ten miles away from the fallen Orphide, they chatted.

“Well done, Vane!”

Kaito told Vane the same words as in the legend of the Seven Heroes.

The battle in Chapter One of II had finally come to an end here.

Kaito rubbed Vane’s head, who was exhausted, vigorously and happily.

…But he was still heavily injured.

He wanted to avoid fighting weak monsters for a while.

However, the faces of the seven people who had finished the battle looked even more mature than just a few tens of minutes ago.

The battle with Orphide had ended with an intensity they had never experienced before, further growing the seven of them.

As they were doing so, Lizred woke up and stood up on her own.

“Oh my… the fact that I’m alive means you did it,” 

She said with a cute smile, and all six of them nodded and smiled in response.

“By the way, Kaito, I thought it meant, ‘Leave it to me!’ when you said, ‘I’ll handle this!’ But it seems like you dodged it properly. You tricked me, didn’t you?” 

“Don’t be stupid! If I took a hit from that magic, I’d be done for!” 

“Hahaha~! Well, well, if you make too much noise, getting back will be tough!” 

Charlotte laughed and said, “Already feels pretty tough.” Sarah agreed “Just walking is difficult”

They hoped for a break before heading back, and that the knights would come to their rescue.

Just as they were immersed in the cause of their victory,

“…Thump…”

Orphide’s chest moved once.

Orphide shook violently making the seven of them speechless.

There was no way the sound of a heartbeat could be heard from that distance, but the seven of them definitely heard it.

It should have been over.

According to Ren’s knowledge, Orphide should never have awakened again.

Despite the blood flowing, Orphide undoubtedly opened his eyes, raised his body, and said.

“It’s not over yet.”

He spoke while trying to emit an ominous wave.

Vane and the others were still heavily injured.

From here on, it was almost impossible to fight like they had just done. Nevertheless, Orphide didn’t stop, and another wave was released.

Faced with the approaching attack with great force, the seven tried to whip themselves into shape to fight.

But what could the seven, who were unsteady on their feet, do? They endured the pain and tried to withstand it… and that’s when it happened.

A wall of golden glittering flames appeared.

The wall of flames that appeared between the two sides easily burned the power unleashed by Orphide.

The flames were so dazzling that they illuminated Lizred’s eyes.

“Stronger than my flames…?” she said, her voice filled with amazement.

Protected by the flames that suddenly appeared, the seven looked at Orphide, who was dumbfounded.

He noticed something different from before and, unlike before, enveloped his legs more heavily in magic. He emitted an aura, sending out a sharp kick from his legs.

However, that also failed to reach its target.

The wave he had sent out disappeared before reaching Vane and the others.

The attack that Kaito had been desperately trying to deal with was killed by a single sword flash…

The boy who appeared, wielding a magic sword.

“…Sorry, I’m late.”

A sound of a magic airship flying nearby could be heard in the sky.

Nemu turned her gaze in that direction, and a magic airship that looked like a sailboat left the rocky surface.

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