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[The Sword Master and the Former Partner]
When Vigo disappears, the remaining Abyss Walkers crowd me.
While the Genocider, on the other hand, still has a pale light covering its whole body.
I couldn’t save Director and Sensei, and I couldn’t save King Frederick either…
Had I threw down my weapon and surrender to Vigo, they wouldn’t have——
“Frick-san! This is not the time to space out! At this rate, King Frederick, Director, and Sensei would end up being killed for no reason!” (Alfine)
Alfine, who slashed the incoming crowd of Abyss Walkers, scolds me for being in a daze.
After being scolded by Alfine and looking at Director and Sensei couple and King Frederick lying on the ground, I come back to myself.
Right, I have to at least protect the royal capital.
I wouldn’t be able to face Director and Sensei couple and King Frederick, otherwise.
“That’s right. It’s as you say, Alfine! I’ll definitely protect the royal capital.” (Frick)
“We can mourn the king, Director and Sensei a lot later, so let’s get rid of these guys first.” (Alfine)
Having killed several Abyss Walkers in a single sword sweep, Alfine stands back to back with me.
I recall the times when the two of us alone overcame desperate situations with no chance to survive, and decide to do whatever I can to overcome this crisis.
In this situation, what should I do to minimize the damage done to the royal capital as much as possible…
While avoiding the attacks of the Abyss Walkers, I look closely at the surroundings.
The figure of Dimol flying over the sky with Cinzia on his back jumps into my sight.
If I take Genocider up to the sky with Dimol and let it explode up there, the damage might be minimal.
The problem is how to take the heavy and rampaging Genocider up to the sky…
I can reduce its weight with Weight Saving magic, but as for its rampage…it’d work out somehow if I cut off both of its arms, huh.
There’s no time to ponder about it, and in the worst case it explodes midair, I should be able to protect myself and Dimol with barriers.
Having came up with a way to reduce the damage, I decide to put it into practice immediately.
“Noelia! My bad, but please stop Genocider’s movement for a while! I’ll have it explode in the sky!” (Frick)
Noelia nods to my words, holds up her staff, and begins to chant magic.
“Alfine, do you think those tough arms of Genocider’s can be cut off?” (Frick)
“If you swing your sword at a speed faster than the sound and put your full force behind the edge of your sword the moment it enters the skin, you should be able to cut them.” (Alfine)
“I think that’s doable for you, but do you think I can pull that off as well?” (Frick)
“Of course you can. My former partner is a genius who is the only one that can stop the blow of my sword in this world after all. Moreover, you can use magic, so I’m sure your success rate is higher than mine.” (Alfine)
I can’t see the expression of Alfine’s who is fighting Abyss Walkers behind me, but I don’t feel any thorns in her words, the words she throws at me sounds like she’s acknowledging me.
“Okay. Alfine, let’s cut off that guy’s arms at the same time. And when it’s incapacitated, I’ll cast Weight Saving magic and lift it up to the sky with Dimol!” (Frick)
“Got it. Are you ready?” (Alfine)
“Yeah, of course! I’ll show you!” (Frick)
At the same time as I feel the sign of Alfine moving behind me, I rush toward Genocider too.
Noelia’s magic has already froze Genocider’s feet, it cannot move.
While running up to it, I recall the advice Alfine gave earlier.
I should be able to cut it if the speed of the swing, and the force of the swing when the sword edge digs in reaches a certain threshold, huh.
With my physical abilities having been improved with magic, I now should be able to do feats that I was unable to do back in the past.
Tightening my grip on Dayle, I aim the left arm of Genocider’s, who has been rendered immobile.
“Deyaaaaaah!” (Frick)
“Sei!” (Alfine)
Alfine and I launch a slash in a crossing manner, and run pass by the sides of Genocider.
There was a response.
I don’t feel the numbing feeling of failing to cut something…
When I look back, I see the figure of Genocider with its arms cut off.
[Master, just now…I cut through the tough arm in an instant. Amazing, amazing!]
I did it…I did it too.
“Frick-sama, it seems there’s not much time left. The light is getting intense!” (Noelia)
I have no time to rejoice for entering the sword realm that I couldn’t reached when I was with Alfine, as Noelia told me that we’re running out of time.
“Become an invisible hand and reduce the weight of his person. Weight Saving.” (Frick)
Touching Genocider who has lost both arms, I activate Weight Saving magic and call Dimol with a whistle.
After Dimol got down to the ground, Cinzia immediately goes to the side of Director and Sensei.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t save you… I’m truly sorry.” (Cinzia)
“Cinzia-sama, I’m sorry, if I had been more level headed, they wouldn’t have…” (Frick)
“…You guys shouldn’t feel responsible for this… This is all due to our sin…” (Cinzia)
Having unable to find any words for Cinzia whose shoulders are dropped, I silently lower my head and get on Dimol, before he flies up, grabbing Genocider by its shoulders with his claws.
“Kuee!”
While suppressing the resisting Genocider in his claws, Dimol follows my will and steeply climbs up the sky.
“Sorry I got you involved in such a dangerous thing. I’ll absolutely protect you, so please lend me your strength.” (Frick)
“Kueee!”
The pale light that covers the whole body of the Genocider is getting brighter.
It’s about to explode, huh.
At this height, the damage to the royal capital should be minimal.
When I glance down, I see the appearance of the royal capital, which has become small.
“Dimol! Throw it up and dive down!” (Frick)
“Kueee!” (Dimol)
Dimol, responding to my instruction, throws Genocider up into the sky, then makes a sharp turn and begins to dive down toward the ground.
“O’ drifting air. Condense, and unleash at the place I point out! Aerial Broken.” (Frick)
After I released Aerial Broken at Genocider thrown into the sky by Dimol, it gets launched further into the sky by the explosive torrent of air.
Then, the pale light disappears for a moment, before a second sun appears above the royal capital.
“Dimol, I’ve put up some barriers, so please hold on somehow!” (Frick)
“Kuee!”
The barriers that I deployed before the explosion shatters, and each time they shatters, I continue to deploy new to suppress the impact on Dimol.
However, I couldn’t suppress the oscillation of the air, and Dimol, who has a hard time catching the wind, plummets to the ground in spinning manner.
When we are about to collide with the ground, Dimol and I get wrapped in an invisible soft object, and we manage to avoid collision with the ground.
“W-we survived…” (Frick)
“Kuee.”
“I have gotten used to Frick-sama’s recklessness, so…I made sure to make proper preparations.” (Noelia)
It was Noelia’s magic that saved us from crashing.
“I’m always getting taken care of by Noelia…” (Frick)
After I took the hand that Noelia extended and got off Dimol, I look around carefully at the cityscape of the royal capital.
“It seems that there is almost no damage to the city. But, the death of King Frederick and the deaths of Linus-shi, Danton-sama, and Philia-sama will make the royal capital have tough times ahead, I think.” (Noelia)
“Without a doubt…” (Frick)
Many became victims, such as my foster parents, but we managed to avert the destruction of the royal capital.
However, the situation in the Hartford kingdom, which has lost King Frederick, would surely turn chaotic, and no one among us could think of what action should we take in the midst of it.
This marks the end of the main storyline of the royal capital arc, but there’s one more side story coming up next.