Chapter 19: The Strongest Onmyoji Sorcerer Meets the Battle Princess

Several days later, we had arrived in another town.

Fortunately, it seemed we were in time again. A legion of undead soldiers was advancing towards the town.

“There.”

Yuki peeked out from above and asked

“Did you come up with a good way to deal with them?”

“Well…”

I reply casually and formed a seal with one hand.

《Summoning —— Chimera》

From a distortion in space, a creature emerged.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary bird.

A large body like a bird of prey, completely dyed in a purplish-black hue, with only its beak colored in red.

The elegantly long neck and shadow resembled a peacock that dwelled in the celestial realm.

I pointed towards the army of undead and instructed the creature.

“Go.”

“Poppo.”

The Chimera responded with a strange cry, resembling the beat of a drum.

With its wings spread, the creature took flight. Its appearance was indistinguishable from an ordinary bird.

As the Chimera approached the airspace above the undead army — it happened.

“Ogh…”

With a small groan, the undead soldiers marching beneath the Chimera began to collapse one after another.

Without exception, each one stopped in its tracks, convulsed, and then fell to the ground. There was no sign of them getting back up.

Despite appearances, the Chimera seemed to do nothing more than fly. Nevertheless, as if invisible legs were trampling down the grass, the undead soldiers directly below it fell one by one.

At that moment, one of the paper figures, which had gotten too close to the Chimera, lost its field of vision.

Checking from another perspective, the humanoid medium for that paper figure seemed to have decayed, losing its strength and falling from the sky.

Yuki expressed surprise

“Oh, it seems the Chimera venom works on corpses. It didn’t affect Seika-sama’s poisonous smoke, though.”

“Well, of course not. The venom was created by the supernatural power of the Youkai; it’s different from ordinary poison.”

The Chimera is a Youkai that harbors a potent poison within its body.

The effects of its poison aren’t limited to living beings like humans or animals. Merely flying over fields causes crops to wither, perching on trees results in the decay of branches, and even stones shatter and crumble.

At first glance, it sounds like a curse, but the reason the Chimera is known as a poisonous Youkai lies in the fact that, by soaking its feathers in alcohol, one can extract an extremely toxic substance. Due to this property, the Chimera has been utilized for poisoning and assassination throughout history. There are even legends of an emperor in Tang Chin, fearing assassination, who supposedly burned down a mountain where the Chimera was spotted.

While it seems the strength of the poison can be somewhat controlled, it’s likely that the Chimera hasn’t unleashed its full power yet.

“…It seems like it’s over now.”

While contemplating such matters, the last of the undead soldiers fell. The Chimera, having completed its task, returned with a triumphant air.

“Poppo poppo”

“Well done. Here.”

Saying this, I scattered some breadcrumbs, and as if it had been waiting, the Chimera began pecking at them.

In appearance, it looked just like a chicken. It was hard to believe it was a Youkai.

Chimeras, it’s said, favor poisonous snakes just like peafowls. However, in reality, they’ll eat anything – insects, nuts, rice, bread, you name it.

Perhaps due to the coursing poison within, Chimeras, unlike other Youkai, are known to avoid alcohol. But in many other aspects, their behavior is quite bird-like.

After finishing eating the breadcrumbs, the Chimera looks satisfied, and I return it to its original state.

Then, I send out a crow paper figure to check the condition of the fallen bodies scattered around.

“Yeah. As expected, I managed to defeat them cleanly.”

While there are some skin abrasions, it doesn’t seem to hinder the investigation.

Those abrasions will probably dilute somewhat once the poison is removed. It’s better to take precautions so that the poison from the crow doesn’t spread around when burning the bodies later.

And, just as I started thinking about the next steps— that was the moment.

“…Huh?”

In the crow’s field of vision, amidst the cluster of fallen bodies, a solitary figure stood at the center.

Adorned in fine full-body armor, wielding a sword.

Compared to the surrounding undead soldiers, the equipment was considerably superior. Though the face was hidden by a helmet… judging from the armor’s shape and stance, it appeared to be a woman.

I furrow my brows.

Just a moment ago, there shouldn’t have been anyone like that.

Could there be an undead soldier capable of healing poison with light attribute magic? To confirm, I descend the crow paper figure for further investigation.

The knight in full-body armor bent down, picking something up from the corpses.

The crow descended further, revealing what it was.

It appeared to be a hand axe, the same kind of weapon the undead soldier had been using.

Suddenly— the knight looked up, directly at the crow.

Through the paper figure’s field of vision, the gaze of the knight and mine intersected.

“Huh…?”

In the next moment, the knight aimed the hand axe at the crow and threw it.

Just as the blade seemed to approach, the paper figure’s field of vision disappeared.

“…!”

The paper figure was dropped.

Startled, I return my focus to my own field of vision.

The knight standing in the distance was looking at me.

Not at the dropped shikigami but at me, the sorcerer.

“Ah… seems like a somewhat troublesome opponent.”

Muttering, I conjure a humanoid figure just in case.

As a precaution, I start forming a seal with one hand to summon a youkai… right at that moment.

The figure of the knight, as if momentarily erased, then—right in front of me, raised its sword.

“…!!”

The swung steel greatsword was intercepted by a floating copper sword. Intense metallic sounds echoed.

Summoning Hibi-Tsuryō Zan just in time, but the situation was not favorable.

The knight’s physical strength was tremendous, and Hibi-Tsuryō Zan was being pushed back. The eyeball on the hilt wriggled as if agitated.

Just being able to engage Hibi-Tsuryō Zan in combat means the sword itself is quite formidable. If it were a dull blade, it should have been bisected upon impact.

In the brief moment created by the clash between the youkai and the knight, I organize my thoughts.

The moment the knight appeared, I sensed the flow of power. It was teleportation magic. In that case, the knight is likely a magic swordsman using dark attributes.

Deciding on a strategy, I mutter with a grimace.

“Quite troublesome, indeed.”

《Wooden Phase—Binding Vine Technique》

Vines thick as tree trunks extend from the knight’s feet.

They coil around the armor, seemingly restraining the knight’s body, but…

“…!”

Simultaneously with the emergence of the power, flames erupt around the knight.

The vines are engulfed, quickly burning away.

“Fire attribute magic…”

It was a slightly unexpected response, but unfortunately for them, it was a misguided move.

《Wooden Phase—Binding Vine Technique》

Three times the amount of vines from before erupt from the ground.

Even if they rely on the armor’s flame resistance, the heat will eventually become unbearable for the person inside. The same trick can’t be used repeatedly.

“…Tch.”

A small clicking sound.

Simultaneously with the emergence of power, the knight’s figure disappears.

“That’s right.”

The knight should have teleported there.

I immediately grabbed the hilt of Hibi-Tsuryō Zan, which had suddenly disappeared and was staggering, as the opponent’s sword vanished.

Without hesitation, I swung it forcefully behind me.

It teleported to my rear and deflected the knight’s descending sword. I could sense the opponent’s confusion.

However, at the same time, I couldn’t help but grimace.

“…!”

It was heavy.

With the combination of my psychokinetic strength and Hibi-Tsuryō Zan’s supernatural power, the knight’s sword remained heavy.

Nevertheless, it still deflected the attack, just as planned.

Hibi-Tsuryō Zan took the blow, and the knight had to break free from the situation where I could unleash spells freely.

For that, there was no choice but to teleport. The most unexpected destination would be the rear, completely out of sight.

Well, it was predictable for that reason.

I stepped forward towards the off-balance knight.

Closing in within the sword’s range, I attached a single humanoid figure to the armor.

《Solar Phase—Forceful Emission Technique》

The knight’s body was shot diagonally upward.

《Forceful Emission》 lacks lethal effects, but it’s quite challenging to deal with on the first encounter. Normally, one wouldn’t even understand what happened.

If shot into the air, it couldn’t be stopped by thrusting a sword. In the situation of being rapidly propelled, specifying the coordinates for teleportation would be difficult, rendering teleportation nearly impossible.

However… even if they managed a desperate teleportation, it would be pointless against my inexorable technique.

《Solar-Wood-Fire Phase—Waterfall of Luminance Technique》

A massive wave of flames surged towards the knight.

The roaring sea of burning oil transformed the surroundings into a sea of fire. There was no way to escape with a hasty teleportation.

Just when it seemed like the decisive moment had come.

A strong flow of power surged through the knight’s staff-sword— and in the next moment, as if to block the progress of the flames, a huge ice block fell from the void.

“What…?”

From the point of contact with the ice, the flames extinguished.

The oil had cooled, falling below the temperature needed to sustain combustion.

The knight inverted their body and unleashed a powerful wind attribute magic in the opposite direction.

To counter the momentum of 《Forceful Emission》, I immediately threw Hibi-Tsuryō Zan behind me, returning it to the phase. If it couldn’t stand alone, it would only be a hindrance.

Simultaneously with the flow of power, the knight’s figure disappeared. And in an instant, they appeared in front of me.

The knight, squeezing their sword, was staring at me through the helmet.

“…This is bad.”

I promptly tossed Hibi-Tsuryō Zan backward and phased it out. If it couldn’t stand on its own, it would only get in the way.

With the flow of power, the knight’s figure vanished. And in the next moment, they appeared right in front of me.

The knight drew it’s sword.

In the next moment— a thrust so powerful it seemed to rend space itself was unleashed.

It accurately pierced my heart, but it didn’t snuff out my life.

What the knight’s sword had captured was just a single humanoid figure.

“I can use teleportation as well.”

Swapping places with the paper figure behind me and creating distance from the knight, who was now out of range, I had already formed the necessary seal.

I infused magical power into the humanoid figure left at the knight’s feet.

《Golden Phase—Needle Mountain Technique》

A vast array of dull-colored, gigantic thorns protruded in the area centered around the knight.

Another widespread attack that wouldn’t allow evasion through teleportation. However, I didn’t expect it to be enough to finish them off.

As expected, the knight skillfully dodged the needle mountain hell.

Kicking the ground and even kicking away the extending thorns, they escaped into the air.

But, not so fast.

《Earth Phase—Tengu Whisker Technique》

Threads of volcanic rock fibers transformed into high-speed whips.

The target was their legs. While cutting off the tips of the thorns, the “Tengu Whisker” closed in on the knight. In midair, there should be no way to evade.

However.

A sound—ding. 

Simultaneously, the thorns that stood on either side of the knight were cut off by the threads.

The knight, still in the position of raising their sword, landed on one of the thorns, displaying its flat surface.

I was impressed.

The knight had severed the threads of the “Tengu Whisker” with an upward slash from a lower position.

To cut the almost invisible, highly resilient threads flying at high speed on the first encounter…

But there was no time to be impressed. The raised sword held a swirling flow of significant power.

The moment the staff-sword was swung down and I finished placing the humanoid figures around, coincided.

In the next moment—incandescent boulders poured down in abundance from the void.

With a deafening roar, the surrounding land was devastated.

The ones that hit directly were annihilated by the barrier, but the intense heat traveled through the air, reaching me.

A stinging sensation on my cheek. When I touched it with my fingers, blood was oozing. It seemed that shards of shattered stones flying around had grazed me.

As the healing through the sacrifice ended, the magical meteor shower also ceased.

The knight stood in the same spot. Clearly fatigued, they were breathing heavily, shoulders rising and falling. Perhaps when they cut the “Tengu Whisker,” the edge had grazed them, as blood was dripping from their left gauntlet.

However, at that moment, a faint light of light attribute magic glowed on their left arm.

I sensed the implication and muttered to myself.

“They can even use healing magic… that person.”

The light disappeared, and the knight, as if confirming their senses, opened and closed their gauntlet, clenching their fist. It seemed like they had been fully healed.

I couldn’t help but wear a slightly bitter expression.

They were quite a formidable opponent.

Activating high-level magic for all six attributes without incantations, displaying swordsmanship bordering on mastery, and possessing strength and combat intuition. Even facing Kurojika, they seemed likely to have a decent match.

I’ve been attempting restraint from the beginning, but it’s proving quite challenging.

Ordinary methods of restraint can be escaped through teleportation, and on the other hand, trying to inflict enough damage to avoid instant death is easily dealt with by their current level of skills. With other eyes present, using conspicuous youkai is also tricky.

I sigh softly and shift my mindset.

Amid the struggle, I’ve gained some confidence.

If physical restraint is difficult, trying dialogue here might not be a bad idea. I give a slight smile and address the knight.

“It seems you’re not one of the deceased.”

No matter what, a undead soldier like this is impossible.

Though they likely aren’t a necromancer either.

I wait in silence for a response. After a moment of collecting their breath, the knight angrily replies.

“What the hell are you doing!”

The voice was high-pitched. It belonged to a woman.

As expected. However, there were some surprising aspects.

Despite having such strength, there wasn’t the imposing presence of a formidable warrior. Her way of speaking seemed somewhat rough, almost like that of a rowdy child.

In the first place, I didn’t understand the meaning of her response.

“…What? What do you mean? What are you saying?”

“I’m asking you what you’re doing. By any chance, you… have become my enemy!? What happened to that guy!?”

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re asking.”

I began to have an unpleasant premonition.

Among those who deviate from the norms of humanity, there are often individuals whose minds have deteriorated.

Considering the completely mismatched content of our conversation, there was a possibility that this female knight belonged to that category.

“If you ask what I’m doing… it’s evident. I’m defeating the undead soldiers attacking the city for the Empire.”

“Huh~? For the Empire? How can you spout such nonsense!”

The female knight shouted in anger.

“Don’t you, a comrade of the hero, interfere with this matter!!”

“What!?”

I widened my eyes in shock.

“Why… do you know about that?”

I had assumed she might be a force allied with the necromancer.

However, knowledge of the dispatch of a hero is limited. Perhaps she’s acting on orders from the court or even the emperor’s private troops.

No… I can’t completely rule out the possibility that the necromancer’s side has obtained information from a collaborator.

In the midst of chaos, I simply inquire,

“Who are you?”

“…You’re more impolite than I thought! I am…”

At that moment,

The female knight was attacked by blades of flame, wind, ice, and gravel.

“Whoa!”

Caught completely off guard, the female knight was thrown off from the severed thorns.

However, the damage seemed less than expected. Judging from the flow of power, it appears that her armor is also enchanted, nullifying some of the magic.

“Hahaha, I’ll lend a hand, foolish human!”

From outside the needle mountain hell, Ren shouted.

Somewhat uncharacteristically, with a hint of urgency, he swung a magic blade into the sky.

“Even you seem to struggle against the ‘Battle Princess.'”

“Battle Princess…”

As she contemplated the words, the magical blades transformed once again and headed towards the female knight.

The female knight, who had been thrown off by the previous attack, grabbed onto the towering thorns, hanging amidst the needle mountain.

As the immense magic approached closely, she saw the figure of the young forest-dwelling elf manipulating it.

“Haa!?”

A voice of equal parts confusion and astonishment echoed.

Relentlessly, Ren’s magic assailed the bewildered female knight.

Thorns in its path were systematically destroyed. It indeed possessed considerable power.

However, just before reaching her, its force significantly diminished.

Around the female knight, a faint light formed a cylindrical barrier. It seemed to be a protective barrier nullifying the magic.

However, the column of light was gradually being eroded.

Even with the barrier deployed by the female knight, it seemed Ren’s magic could not be completely stopped.

“Kuh…!”

Uttering a frustrated sound, the figure of the female knight vanished.

She reappeared on the opposite side of the needle mountain, outside of its treacherous spikes.

“I’ll make sure to report about you guys!!”

Leaving behind those words, the figure of the female knight disappeared again.

Nowhere to be found. Even checking through the eyes of a crow flying in the sky, the destination of her teleportation remained unknown. Perhaps, but it’s likely that she escaped into the distant visible forest.

I let out a small sigh.

“Well, that was a close call. Foolish human.”

As I turned around, Ren was running towards me.

Seemingly low on energy, he already had sweat forming on his forehead.

I inquired

“Was that… the Battle Princess?”

“Huh? Yes, I think so?”

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ren answered with a composed smile.

“Of course, it was my first time seeing her too. With that level of strength to become a female knight, it can only be the rumored Battle Princess, don’t you think?”

“…I see. Indeed, that could be true.”

A Battle Princess who arrives ahead of the rebel forces, seizing the city with unparalleled strength. I had completely forgotten about such rumors.

Initially, I considered the possibility of her being the leader of the rebel forces, but it seems that’s not the case, at least.

However… aside from that, I knew nothing else.

I didn’t even know whose pawn she might be.

I sighed again.

It seems like troubles just keep piling up.

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