Chapter 6
Chapter 6 Their mortal combat (first half)
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Until merely 30 minutes ago, they weren’t in hell at all.
Rather, they were in front of God, located at the other end.
The chapel of a small church.
Every member of Strikers who volunteered for the cleaning group moved their hands lively.
Although it was said to be small if compared to others, it was quite a chore if a big cleaning was done with 10 people or so.
So they tried to forget about the tiredness of the manual labor by chatting.
– I don’t understand how I’m still C-Rank and Momochi and Ranjou are B-Rank.
A person tried to forget about it by complaining and speaking ill behind other’s backs.
– You have said that so many times that I’m fed up with it, Kammie.
Taketsuru, who was cleaning a wall, turned around and shrugged his shoulders.
He was a man who looked good even while holding a dust cloth.
– Takki-senpai is so annoying!!!!
The greatest burden of Strikers… the pain-in-the-neck Mannendou Kamekichi was vexed while clenching a dust cloth (not a handkerchief but a dust cloth) in his teeth.
– Even Senpai is still C. How’s that those woooorthless ones are B? The world is so wrooooong. Is it politics? Is it also due to bad politics?
– There’s nothing that can be done, because this is a world of merit. I got that, you know? They’ve been doing their best to a great extent lately.
– Doesn’t that sound like we haven’t been doing our best so far? I kept this as a secret until now, but actually I’ve been doing secret training every night!
– I know.
– It wasn’t a seeeeeecret!?
– I heard it too.
– Me too.
– Me too.
– How much did it spreaaaaad!?
– Hahaha, You’ve been researching if there’s any kind of cool pose and spelling and how you must call the characteristic secret method Flare as Nirvana Phoenix. It’s unique and cool though.
– Kill me already. Takki-senpai delivered the coup de grace saying『That’s why you can’t be stronger』! When you praise me, it’s the opposite, you embarrass meeeeeeeeeeeee!
– This time I’ll do it with you.
– Senpai is coming to my siiiiiiiiide.
Kamekichi bent backwards in a pose similar to Munch’s “The Scream”, he bent so much he carried out a head bridge.
He was a Kuroma, and while it made no sense, he had nice abs and back muscles.
– Well, you’ll be small fries no matter how much time passes. To tell you the truth, you’re talentless.
The demon vice-captain-sama laughed scornfully. Without caring for the members’ mental well-being.
Far from that, she actually volunteered for the shopping group, but she was in the cleaning group under the order of Isurugi, so this was a diversion for her.
– Y-you’re lying. I’m an extremely talented Savior and with my potential, I shouldn’t lose to anyone.
– Then stop complaining that some lasses got ahead of you. You’re getting on my nerves.
– Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, the words of the demon vice-captain resonate emotionally within meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Kamekichi cried and let his abdomen move up and down as he performed a head bridge.
He was a Kuroma, so his very gifted abs and back muscles were a waste.
– How should I put it, Kanzaki? You were also complaining about it recently, weren’t you?
Taketsuru was amazed and retorted, but while Tokiko persistently brushed the stains that didn’t disappear on the floor,
– Well, just you watch, those lasses…. I’ll be Rank in no time and I’ll make them realize the difference in rank…. Fuh… fufufufuh…
– Uh oh. Kanzaki scared me when she was quiet.
– Hey, Uisuke. Your hands are stopping little by little. We won’t finish cleaning before the shopping group returns.
He was warned by a hand with a dust cloth, by Sophia who was nominated as the group leader of the cleaning group.
And with her other hand, she made Kamekichi rise by grabbing the nape of his neck.
– Uuh… I was surpassed in rank by Ranjou… and I… wasn’t allowed to practice the play… you made me help with cleaning… my sorrow is… immeasurable…
– Hey, Sophia. Let this stupid give up. If your arm breaks him, he’ll make a scene.
– I’m against violence.
– Hahaha, Sophia. Kammie’s neck has been creaking for a while, you know?
– Sorry! I failed to adjust my strength!
– … Sorrow…
Kamekichi fainted and Sophia rapidly lay him down and nursed him.
– Recover consciousness!
Every time she slapped him in the face, the eyes of Kamekichi swelled out like mochi.
*TN: Mochi is a sticky rice cake.
Strained laughs leaked out from here and there.
– What are we doing?
Taketsuru returned to clean the wall while showing a refreshing smile like a summer breeze.
Suddenly――the girl who should be cleaning right next to him wasn’t there.
When he made his eyes move all the way to the right, a plain classmate who wore glasses was cleaning the wall.
She was truly plain, she had no presence, if you took your eyes off her, you would lose sight of her immediately.
– You work fast, Manchan.
Taketsuru rapidly moved next to her. The girl with glasses rapidly ran away.
A long drop of sweat flowed on Taketsuru’s forehead.
(Are you angry or something?)
Taketsuru moved to her side again and whispered into her ear.
(You promised that you weren’t going to be over-familiar with me in front of everyone)
The girl with glasses replied with a low voice that showed no signs of friendliness.
Her cleaning hand didn’t stop unless she looked at him.
Her name was Souya Manako.
She simply was one of the regular members that only had 14 people. Moreover, a B-Rank Shirogane.
She was Taketsuru’s girlfriend.
(Disappear. You interrupt my cleaning)
She should be his girlfriend….
It was a secret that the two of them were dating, and for the public, Taketsuru was supposed to be in a long distance relationship.
In the past, Taketsuru fell deeply in love with Manako and confessed his love, but,
– Did you know? Dating with a popular man like you is quite complicated and people would envy me.
So, he was coldly turned down.
Still, he continued approaching her without losing courage and the result: he finally got an OK, she said「I’ll be your girlfriend if you can keep it a secret」.
(Tell me the reason why you’re angry at least. I’m bothered why Manchan got angry so suddenly)
(I dislike pathetic men)
(Student in lower grades reached B-Rank one after the other while I’ll be forever a C-Rank?)
(I really don’t care about ranks. But I feel like Mannendou-kun is way cooler than a man who put on airs and who can easily say that there’s nothing that can’t be done. If you’re a man, that is)
(Guh…)
His chest hurt because he was compared to another man by his girlfriend.
(I’m also doing all that I can…)
Taketsuru was the best technique user in the academy.
He was a hardworking person to the point he even respected Moroha in terms of subtlety when manipulating Light Techniques.
However, it was sad to say that the strength of the prana itself was mediocre, and no matter how much special training he did, he wouldn’t go beyond the upper middle.
Even when they were the same art specialization type of Shirogane, Haruka rapidly got stronger and faster.
The difference of talent they were born with. He couldn’t laugh at the criticism of Tokiko moments ago.
So Manako, who knew the inner struggle of Taketsuru more than anyone else, said.
(Yes, you’ve been doing your best. You’re a very serious person. But don’t be reckless)
(Manchan is so harsh)
Taketsuru put on a dejected face.
What came to his mind was Moroha’s fighting style. And Isurugi these days.
They usually fought very smartly and coolly, and yet, when the crucial moment came, they bared their fangs and let their wild real nature get even more fired up.
Their hesitation was nonexistent.
In that mortal combat with Fortress, he could see it clearly before his eyes.
Taketsuru couldn’t do the same.
(That is until I’m told to look away from reality. Even I. I’m――
(Did you hear something now?)
(No, no, it’s nothing. I was speaking to myself)
(No, not that. Did you hear a strange voice just now?)
Taketsuru, who was told so by Manako, tried to strain his ears.
– … I’m soorryyy.
He heard it.
An apologetic, very sad and mosquito-sounding voice of a woman.
It wasn’t the voice of someone belonging to Strikers.
Taketsuru remembered them perfectly, he didn’t mishear it.
– … I’m soorryyy.
After a moment, they heard it again.
Taketsuru and Tokiko looked at each other’s face and searched for the owner of the voice.
There she was.
A woman stood up straight at the entrance of the chapel.
The weather was clear outside, but she was dripping wet as if a heavy rain had fell.
She was spoiled while wearing a top quality female suit.
Her long hair stuck to her body, not even her face could be seen.
Somehow, she was an eerie woman, just like a ghost.
– Hey, Sophia. A visitor came to pay a visit. Go call the sister.
Taketsuru quickly called out to the group leader.
At a glance, she was a woman who had special circumstances.
This was a church so maybe she was seeking help. If that was the case, then they had to be quick.
Sophia understood so and tried to head to the back immediately, but,
– Excuse me… it’s not『may I come in?』but『I’m sorryyy』. I’m sorry for the confuuusion.
The woman began to say strange things.
While Taketsuru had a question mark floating on his head,
– Why do you need to apologize to us?
Manako had a frightened look in her eyes and asked the soaked woman.
The woman began to explain, looking troubled and very apologetic.
– I’m sorry for saying it this laaate. My name is Émilienne Cavani. I came from Fraaance. In Les éléments, I have the court rank of Le Liquide. Ah, I am sorry if you don’t know what that iiiiis. And, I’m sorry for not going straight to the pooint. I am truly sorry, it is hard for me to say this, but it’s absolutely necessary that everyone becomes like ragged dust clothes for the sake of Charles-samaaa. I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorryyy.*
*TN: Le Liquide is the furigana reading for “Liquid = 1” and it means the liquid.
The thing she said was preposterous.
– What the hell!? Why is the French Division aiming at us!?
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– I am sorryyy. I didn’t come here to taaaalk.
The soaked woman――Émilienne raised her right hand suddenly.
A saber came flying to it as if it were magic and fit into her palm while drawing a swirl.
Émilienne put the point of the sword looking down and murmured.
– … Liberation.
Together with that, the saber melted.
It changed into an impure liquid, fell from the woman’s palm, spread on the ground and disappeared as if permeating through the ground.
However, that was all.
Émilienne didn’t do anything while standing up straight compared to the dangerous remark she said.
Without lowering his guard, Taketsuru stood ready to protect Manako behind him, however, a question mark floated on his head again, saying「Was this… a joke?」.
But,
– Don’t lose your focus!
The regular member Takenaka raised the alarm.
He was a Kuroma who really felt like an herbivore, he was the man regarded as the head of the second years until the other day when Haruka was promoted to B-Rank.*
*TN: In this context, herbivore refers to young men who aren’t interested in aggressively pursuing women, money and sex.
– Les éléments… of the French『Cradle of the Sun』! This person is a golem user! Hit the person in――
Takenaka couldn’t shout to the end.
Suddenly, a straight crack appeared in the floor at his feet and a splash of water gushed up from there.
The liquid that was compressed like a blade and jetted out at a high output cut off from the right knee of Takenaka to the left cheek of his innocent face like a razor in a straight line.
A blood splash danced, the sacred chapel was covered in blood.
– Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
Takenaka pressed his face and chest and crouched due to the intense pain.
The gushing of the liquid blade stopped in an instant, but it made the blood of almost everyone in this place run cold.
The golem couldn’t be seen.*
*TN: Golem is the furigana reading for enemy.
They didn’t know where it would come from.
– I am sorryyy. I don’t have any grudge against you, but I can’t go easy on you, I am sorryyy.
The unpleasantness of Émilienne who kept excusing herself apologetically with all her heart reinforced the enshrouding gray mood.
– What are you doing!? Hit the real body! Don’t make Takenaka’s death be in vain!
However, and as one would expect, Tokiko had nerves of steel.
She assessed the situation in an instant and gave orders.
The Shirogane members, regardless of their status (regular, reserve), reacted immediately and obeyed the order of the vice-captain.
– Fools, you aren’t dead yet!
And, don’t let her kill you.
Taketsuru manifested a sword from his ID Tag and tried to charge at Émilienne――but he was caught by Manako.
– Manchan?
– Tsugiharkun! Nosadkun! Below you!
Manako raised a loud shout like she never did.
She took off her glasses and exposed her flaming and shining eyes.
Her face, which stared in a ghastly look, was so beautiful it was divine.
Manako was a Clairvoyance expert.
They followed that warning and rolled at once, trying to void the liquid blade that spurted out from the floor.
However, Tsugihara reacted too late and followed the same end as Takenaka.
– Everyone, don’t do poor movements and just be cautious about what’s at your feet! Since cracks run before it attacks, you can avoid it even if the one seeing them is a Kuroma!
The inside of the chapel erupted in echo with the precise advice of Manako.
– I am sorryyyy. Since nobody can’t attack, all that you will do is glare at each ooother?
– Huh! As if you care about us! In the meantime, we’ll call for reinforcements.
Tokiko proudly folded her arms and smiled contemptuously.
– Kuraki, get in contact with Haimura, Haneda, you call Isurugi and Shidou, get in touch with the Academy.
She not only acted big, she also quickly gave adequate directions.
But――
– Haimura… is busy…
Screams rose from everywhere.
– What!? Hmm… no, wait. Someone’s calling me…. Hello? Yeah, you’re the kid that is always clinging to Haimura. What? Haimura’s with you? I see――
Tokiko talked to her on her smartphone while staring down to the floor.
Everyone carefully listened the course of events and swallowed the saliva held in their mouths while still being cautious of what was at their feet.
– Good news, everyone! Haimura seems to be coming this way right now!
The chapel was covered with cheers.
Taketsuru clenched his fist in one go.
But then again――
– I am sorryyyy. I don’t think that Haimursan can coooome.
– What do you mean!?
– So please, everyone enjoy yourselves with this child. I am sorryyy.
The golem of Émilienne was really unforgiving.
The floor near the entrance bubbled and a large quantity of liquid oozed from there.
That liquid gathered together and became a near two-meter high wriggling mass.
As soon as it sensed that surprise attacks were useless, it quickly exposed its real form and intimidated them.
– It looks like a slime… like in the games.
The intense grossness was more than its impressiveness.
Its zigzagging movement induced physiological disgust.
Taketsuru, who was in front of the golem that completely showed up, retorted by himself with a bad impression that unconsciously came out of his mouth.
– So, please prepare yourselves. I am sorryyyy.
The slime golem started to move forward, crawling like a worm.
– Since I can see it, it doesn’t scare me at all!
Sophia got all excited and met the enemy.
– If it’s a simple battle like this, then it’s my turn!
The toughest and best power fighter of Akane Academy.
The number three charge attack ranked next to Isurugi and Moroha as a Shirogane.
The slime golem grew several tentacles, extended them like spears and thrust them, but Sophia didn’t worry in the least.
She became invulnerable with High Durability and repelled every single attack.
She made her fist be clad in the radiance of her brilliant prana, brandished it with all her strength and swung her strong arm with all that she had.
If it were someone like Taketsuru, Sophia’s Destructive Fist would pulverize it in a single hit.
That directly hit the slow-moving golem!
The fist of Sophia immediately sunk into it vigorously. Taketsuru involuntarily shouted with exultation.
The fist, which had an excess momentum, penetrated it deeper and deeper, and Taketsuru clenched his fists spontaneously.
But… the momentum seemed to be too much….
The right arm steadily went into the body of the slime… Taketsuru was bewildered, he said 「Huh?」.
This incredible destructive power didn’t penetrate it….
On the contrary, it seemed like it was swallowing it….
The slime golem appeared to not feel pain….
While Taketsuru had such suspicion, the slime golem made its body stretch and finally wrapped up the whole body of Sophia….
Without bearing it, Sophia acted violently, but nothing could be done.
The golem made of liquid had nothing to hold on to, she was in a state like she was drowning.
Bubbles leaked out one after another from the mouth with the clenched teeth, and they gradually became smaller.
– I am sorryyyy. No matter how much power you have, hitting and cutting and stabbing and all those things will have no effect on this chiiiild.
– Save Sophia!
– I am sorryyy. I think it’s too laaate.
As Émilienne pointed out, a conspicuously big bubble leaked from Sophia’s mouth.
And then, the bubbles came to an end.
The slime golem spat Sophia who completely fainted.
– I am sorryyy. That person is strooong. That’s why I didn’t let her suffer as much as possible… there’s nothing you could have dooone. I am sorry, I am sorryyy.
The inside of the chapel was enveloped by a heavy silence.
That Sophia attacked without delivering the attack, on the contrary, she was easily defeated.
Everyone lost their voice.
– If so, then let’s just freeze it with Dark Arts!
It was this man who broke such a hopeless mood this time.
– Be confused by the artistic White Breath of Mannendou Kamekichi-sama! Child of ice〜 Child of snow〜.
– Born from water Return to water And collapse.
The Dark Art of Émilienne was completed faster than Kamekichi’s Dark Art which had started first.
A blow like a waterfall flowing directly horizontal struck Kamekichi, he was washed away to the back as he was and slammed against the wall behind him.
Several people beside Kamekichi were swallowed up by the Hydro Blast and all of them didn’t move as they collapsed.
Even the fully fledged and qualified Kuroma Kamekichi.
However, the Dark Art used by Émilienne was different in speed, accuracy, power, force, level, even status, just about everything was different.
It was far beyond ten-odd levels higher.
This was merely a 1st Rank Hydro Blast, but even when she used it, it looked like a terrifying unknown Dark Art.
– You… said that you came from France, right…? What’s your rank…?
The always arrogant Tokiko had the color drained from her face.
It was a pointless question to ask.
Despite the fact that there was a number of B-Rank people in this place, including Tokiko, they were overwhelmed….
– I am sorryyy. I’m embarrassed so I said nothiiiing. I may look like this, but I’m the second strongest among Les Éléments. I am sorry for stealing your hopes, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorryyy.
Émilienne truly apologetically apologized for all that she has deliberately done.
What on earth was that kind of mental make-up structure she had?
Taketsuru stopped trying thinking about it. He looked down into the bottomless abyss but he stopped that thought because he felt a chill like he wouldn’t be able to return.
Yes, Taketsuru was scared from the bottom of his heart.
However, the eyes of Manako were there. He was grateful for that.
He didn’t want to show an unattractive side of his to her.
– Protect Kanzaki――the Kuromas! Now it’s evident that Ice Dark Arts have an effect on the slime!
Taketsuru had his weapon at the ready again and said a good thing.
Émilienne didn’t look like she was perturbed at all.
– At any rate, we’ll survive! We’ll hold out until reinforcements come!
He rushed to where Tokiko was and protected her back.
– We feel this is the end because we’ve faltered! We are the “Saviors”!
He shouted in complete desperation to inspire everyone and himself above all else.
This time, Manako didn’t restrain him.
– We are the “Strike”――
And quietly stood next to him.
She exchanged glances with him, nodded to each other and Taketsuru confronted the slime golem.
The atrocious monster made of liquid and similar to the natural enemy of the Shirogane crawled towards them.
Taketsuru frantically suppressed the fear that spoiled his heart moment by moment by putting up with it.
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The home of Isurugi Jin, the captain of Strikers, was not so far from Akane Academy.
The neighboring city was two stations away by train.
He went home once a week to teach the basics to his younger brother Gen, but now he almost never visited it.
As soon as he enrolled, he never came home to meet him because Gen began to skip classes.
Last night, when his father finally recommended changing schools to his younger brother, he was told that he got angry and acted violently. When he heard so from his mother who called him while crying, Isurugi returned home with a calm anger.
– Gen. Are you there?
He knocked on the door of his younger brother’s room and let him know he was there without getting in.
Without letting the truth of Akane Academy be heard by his parents, he faced the situation and talked on his own. Just in case, he kept the volume of his voice in check.
– Whoooah!? That voice… aniki!?
He heard the voice of his extremely frightened younger brother from inside.
It seems he fully understood the mess he himself made.
– Our biological father is an ordinary person. And you, the Savior, used violence. Is that something that can be allowed?
– … No, it isn’t. I completely lost my cool…
How deplorable. Isurugi slowly shook his head in denial.
– You always have had a rough behavior. But you swore to me and the school principal that you would make sure to seriously control yourself to become a Savior, didn’t you? When will that oath be fulfilled?
– I, I haven’t forgotten about that! Actually, I came to the point of learning from Aniki and I intended to be serious――
– Even if I’m not aware that you were playing the hypocrite only in front of me?
– Uuh…
The excellent older brother who had a shallow younger brother gave a sigh of disappointment from the bottom of his lungs.
– The ones who ended up awakening early as Saviors cannot attend school. So you were allowed to attend junior high school. Although you are not an Akane Academy student, it was decided that learning Ancestral Arts was okay. And I decided to teach the basics to my blood relative. Special case, special case, special case. All because the gentle school principal told me to do so. When Maykun, who is a distant relative of the school principal, has no favoritism at all…. Do you get that? You keep betraying the expectations and kindness of the school principal.
– Ah, Aniki doesn’t understand my feelings.
– That is obvious, you know? How embarrassing. How much of a child are you?
Isurugi scolded him harshly without raising his voice.
– The people that are your relatives can’t peek into the others’ hearts. That’s why it’s important to do an effort to get someone understand you. That’s how trust is cultivated.
His younger brother on the other side of the door kept silent.
He thought that being silent would be the end of it and that perseverance of his was pitiable.
– There are no more chances, Gen. If you can’t regain your footing even by shutting yourself in the house, and you just get worse, then I know what to do.
– D-d-don’t do that! It’s just I can’t return to school, it’s so embarrassing even now! Father doesn’t get that! I’m working incredibly hard now…
– In this situation, being confined indoors, what kind of hard work can you do?
– Tanaka … I mean Tanaksensei comes frequently to give me supplementary lessons.
– Hmm…
Isurugi pondered for a moment.
This was like a grateful story, just like his younger brother taking advantage of Tanaksensei’s kindness.
– Wha? Wha? You think I’m lying when I say I’m doing my best? If Aniki looks at my seriousness right now, then you would be astonished, you know? This time I’ll defeat that damn Haimura! If I do so, my confidence will return to me and I’ll attend school!
In fact, his younger brother became cheerful in an instant. Was it because his own words made him feel that good?
Isurugi deeply gave a sigh of disappointment again.
“Will my lungs get empty, I wonder?” he thought.
– So, when will that be possible?
– In a month! … No, in two months, Aniki!
– Got it. During the second semester, it will be decided whether you’re stronger than Haimurkun or you change schools. That’s all.
Isurugi knew that there was a school that became the receiver of Akane Academy students who couldn’t keep up with it.
– Ueeh!?
– I will be praying that giving you your final notice isn’t something that is decided.
Isurugi left those words with him and went away without seeing his younger brother’s face not even once.
He was self-conscious he was a cold older brother.
But it was his nature.
Since always, Isurugi preferred to look up rather than look down.
For better or worse, he wouldn’t lie, his nature wouldn’t allow him to cheat himself.
(One of the two will be able to triumph first, but it would be great if you win. Gen)
He calmed his crying mother and his father who had a swollen face saying「I persuaded him well」and left home.
He walked in the residential district where he was born and raised and headed to the train station.
Holiday noon.
Were they always this silent?
Not even a single person could be seen.
Only the sound of a dreary bell resounded.
The ringtone of the mobile phone broke such quiet atmosphere.
It was a call from Kaneda, a kouhai of Strikers.
– Hello?
『C-captain, please help us! We’re being attacked by a golem user of the French Division!』
Isurugi, who heard his cornered voice, had a grim expression in his eyes.
Why the French Division?
He checked the situation while giving quick steps.
He managed to calm the kouhai who panicked in fear and understood,
– Got it. I’m heading to the church now. However, I’m far from there. Can you hang on?
Isurugi gave him detailed instructions to report to everyone and ended the phone call.
– Now――
Then, he turned around.
The asphalt road put between the fences of every house.
The narrow road where cars would just barely come and go.
It stretched straight to an intersection in the distance――a man in a black suit stood beyond that.
The saber affixed to his hip told him that he wasn’t following him for usual business.
– ――Are you also a staff of the French Division?
– Yes, I am.
The man assented with dignity.
A great man with a splendid aquiline nose.
Isurugi was an un-Japanese in appearance whose height was more than 190cm, but this big man was more than 10cm taller than him.
This was the first time in a while he experienced something like talking and looking up at a person’s face.
– Are you Isurugi Jin-dono, famous for being the strongest in Akane Academy?
– Certainly, I’m Isurugi Jin, but the title of the strongest already belongs to Haimurkun.
– I didn’t express myself well. We have determined to disregard that S-Rank person.
The great man with an aquiline nose closed his eyes solemnly and bowed his head slightly.
– I am Zlatan. I’ve been conferred the rank of the first knight of the『Cradle of the Sun』and I’ve been granted the court rank of Le Solide.*
*TN: Le Solide is the furigana reading for solid = 1.
– Oh, you’re that one. The rumored one since long ago.
– I am greatly obliged.
The great man with an aquiline nose――Zlatan had a facial expression that said「I will speak fast」.
Isurugi heard from him once.
From a Kuroma, from one of his senpais who went to France to study abroad for six months.
The teachings of the French Division――strictly speaking, the magic concept of the「Cradle of the Sun」――was that all creation was made of five materials.
It wasn’t the old-fashioned concept of「earth, water, fire and wind」which was full of strained interpretations and chop logic.
This was an advanced and practical concept.
Namely the five main elements were: 「Solid」「Liquid」「Gas」「Force」and 「Spirit」.
Based on that magic concept,「Cradle of the Sun」trained golems.
Each of the best pupils, who were called Les Éléments, were conferred a court rank depending on the depth of their knowledge, their truth to any of the five elements and the understanding of the mysteries.
If one was Raam, then one was a golem user that was the best versed in「Spirit」rituals, and the knight who followed them below him was Raam 2.*
*TN: Forgive me in this case the translation for ラーム (Raam). Since it’s using French language as a reference, it’s very difficult to land with a word for it (there are like 5 different coincidences for ラーム so…
There was no hierarchical relationship between the five Le Premiers who were the best well versed in each of the five elements.*
*TN: Le Premiers means The Firsts and they are the furigana for “= 1”
However, in terms of strength, there was an authoritative superiority.
The strongest among the five Le Premiers, that is, the first knight who stood at the top of Les éléments.
It was not an exaggeration to say that the mysterious person known as Zlatan――if we exclude those who are out of the common sense, obviously, was the strongest Savior.
Zlatan declared solemnly.
– Isurugi Jin-dono. Given that we are both the strongest, I challenge you to a duel.
Isurugi heard so and replied calmly.
– I accept your challenge. Neither I nor you are the strongest though.
The giant man with an aquiline nose laughed.
– You are a stubborn person.
– I’m often called an obstinate person, you know?
Isurugi didn’t relax his cheeks at all.
He looked to both ends of the street with an overly serious facial expression.
He only could hear the sound of the bell and couldn’t see the figures of people or cars.
That was good, but there were houses right behind the fences to the left and right.
– Is it possible to change location at least?
– That is unnecessary. Even though they are unimportant persons for a knight, it’s not my intention to drag innocent people into this. I swear that I will fight without damaging any house.
– Hmmm…. Could it be that ordering people to leave was your deed?
– That is correct.
Zlatan agreed solemnly.
– In the first place, I have no resentment, and it wasn’t even my real intention to torment weak Saviors. Even though I heard that you and the others of Strikers were more than students and the main force of the Japanese Division, I couldn’t accept it. What I want is a magnificent duel with a real strong person! That’s why I prepared a stage for that.
He spread his thick long arms over the narrow road, threw out his chest and continued speaking sonorously.
– There’s no place to avoid me in a narrow path like this, and if we fight, we have no choice but to collide with our strength head-on. That is certainly majestic! And if you, an Rank like me is my opponent, then I won’t be dissatisfied in the least!
He unsheathed the saber on his hip with an exaggeration typical of a star with his chest still thrown out.
– I am absolutely grateful that you have met my expectations――Liberation.
Finally, Zlatan recited something in a quiet voice.
Then, the readied saber emitted a flash of light, a red hot light similar to melted iron and changed its shape.
It was similar to the process of making the weapon manifest from a Shirogane’s ID Tag.
If it wasn’t because he heard he was a Kuroma before, Isurugi would have misunderstood.
The red hot saber began to expand even more and somehow twisted around the giant body of Zlatan.
Isurugi was amazed――by the absolutely unexpected result.
An instant later, the giant body of Zlatan expanded again.
He was now three meters tall and the thickness of his body was multiplied by 4.
A demon in armor and helmet.
That fantastic thing standing there should be called like that.
– I’m surprised. I can’t believe there was a golem to put on one’s body. On top of that, one wouldn’t believe that there is a Kuroma who fights hand-to-hand, right?
– The moment when you have discarded various ideas, the magic will stagnate and die out.
That struck home. Isurugi raised his collapsed cheeks.
– Now! Why don’t we share the joy of fighting together!?
Zlatan roared.
The three-meter tall mass of metal came charging.
How much would his gross weight be?
A heavy rush to the point subterranean rumbling occurred with every step.
Certainly, he didn’t swear he wouldn’t damage the road, but cracks entered and developed on the asphalt every time his feet stepped on it.
There was a bull fighter called Sophia in Strikers, and while both her power and pressure were good, the intensity of Zlatan’s charge was incomparable.*
*TN: Power and pressure are furigana readings for physical strength and heavy pressure respectively.
He close in on the enemy and raised his right heel overhead like in karate or taekwondo.
He showed surprising techniques that didn’t match his heavy outward appearance.
Then what about the height of the raised heel!?
Isurugi’s tall figure was completely covered by his shadow, he made his chin raise to the limit.
– This isn’t something you can receive with High Durability!
Zlatan swung the heel downward.
He knew that even if he wasn’t warned.
If he were to receive this thing directly, he would be crushed flat even if he was an Rank Shirogane.
The heel that looked like a giant lump of iron raised a sound and approached him with an almost vertical momentum.
It directly hit the top of the head of Isurugi who still looked up astonished.
He was brought down to the ground with an excessive momentum and drilled a very deep hole.
It was an incredible impact, nevertheless, little damage was spread to the surroundings.
That meant that the power of the heel was focused.
A kick backed by martial arts. He didn’t leave everything up to sheer strength and weight.
– Well done.
The subdued voice of Isurugi, who should have received the direct hit, resounded.
– You also did it nicely!
Zlatan admired him.
A fake Isurugi received the heel drop.
He only hit an afterimage made by Giant Gate.
The person in question took a roundabout path and was already behind Zlatan.
– Your power is amazing. Not even Sophikun is that heavy.
Was it harsh for a Kuroma to seek speed?
However, there was no reason to considerate that.
Isurugi let his already manifested broad sword brim with all his prana.
An electric current danced like a snake on the surface of the hard sword blade.
Mars――A super advanced technique that transformed one’s prana into one’s original form.
An act Isurugi Jin excelled at.
He struck the back of Zlatan that was like a wall of metal with the sword transformed into the sword of the God of Thunder with all his might.
The sound of a blow striking something hard was heard!
And sparks of raging electric current! *
*TN: Sparks is the furigana reading for flash of light.
He released the biggest attack with the first blow and brought it down at the fastest speed.
If this wasn’t magnificent, then how should it be called?
Isurugi, who released the deadly sword, couldn’t get――the certain response he was looking for.
He gazed at him in wonderment again.
The sword attack of Isurugi was as much as a hairline, it didn’t hurt Zlatan’s back.
Isurugi’s lightning attack only made a slight burn on Zlatan’s back.
– No one is superior to me when it comes to making a hard golem.
Zlatan turned around.
With an imposing air as if the hits during this time didn’t hit him.
Isurugi fell in his provocation on purpose and struck him with another stroke of Mars.
This time, he aimed at the knee joints which were a moveable part instead of the back which was like a single sheet of metal.
However, and like he thought, he couldn’t land a single scratch on them, and as such, he couldn’t make Zlatan inside the golem receive the electric shock….
– Then again, I am able to collect and alloy only the strong points of multiple minerals and metals. The electrical resistivity of mica is more than 10^13.
On the contrary, Zlatan pushed up the struck knee and attacked with a back roundhouse kick to turn around.
The huge and unrefined steel knee was driven into Isurugi’s chest.
This time it wasn’t a fake.
A direct hit.
– And no matter how heavy I am, if I counterattack while receiving blows, then it’s possible for me to hit even a Shirogane.
His explanations no longer reached Isurugi who was experiencing a sharp pain.
Instead, his body made him realize that.
The tall figure of Isurugi flew more than ten meters in the air, then fell and finally stopped, scraping off the asphalt road for more than 30 meters.
It wasn’t something that he could sustain with High Durability. He had not even a single rib safe, and a lot of blood spouted out from his mouth.
He turned prana into healing with Naikatsutsuu, but his body didn’t recover from the shock. He couldn’t get up.
– You understand it once you experience it, huh. You haven’t lost your fighting spirit even when you suffered damage now. That’s an example, a proof that you’re an indomitable warrior. Now I shall bring you down with respect.
Zlatan approached running to pursue him.
Even though he was heavy.
But that was why he had a deadly majesty.
The captain of Strikers was the same as a baby in front of the first knight of Les Éléments――
Moroha was astonished.
Moroha was indeed astonished.
– Humph――
Charles sniffed like he wasn’t interested.
At the same time, he spelled a 1st Rank Dark Arts with his right hand.
He didn’t write those ancient magic characters with his index finger.
He waved his right hand horizontally as if cutting the air with a hand used like a sword.
After he finished swinging it, a one-line phrase was drawn.
It attacked Moroha, becoming raging flames.
– Kuh.
Moroha rolled on the rooftop of the building to avoid the Flare that scattered in a wide range.
The two sabers that danced in the air came to thrust him, Moroha rotated a few times more and escaped to a safe place.
– Good grief. Escaping is the only ability that you have, seventh person?
Charles swung his hand horizontally, looking bored.
With his left hand now.
White Breath was completed in an instant, a cold wind like a coldthrower and not a flamethrower attacked.
Moroha jumped backwards without enduring it and landed on the rooftop of a nearby building.
The two sabers, which were far away from the range of a Shirogane, returned to the waist of Charles.
Charles hasn’t moved from that spot since the battle started.
Moroha had to go this way and that way.
In this defensive battle, he just kept dodging.
Because the spelling speed of Charles was unusual――no, abnormal.
– You’re amazing.
The battle distance was quite long, Moroha wiped the sweat under his chin.
Frankly speaking, Moroha had never seen a spelling done by a Kuroma faster than him.
Not even Shizuno, Tokiko, the teachers, the worst and most sinister Russians or Lightning Empress.
But Charles’s speed was on another level.
Like a bicycle and a jet fighter, for example.
Just omitting the chanting wouldn’t make it that fast.
The secret was that movement, to use a hand like a sword horizontally.
He divided a phrase into five equal parts and used all five fingers from the thumb to the little finger and wrote it by dividing the work between the fingers.
While he could simply spell it with both hands, he couldn’t imitate it, that kind of thing looked incomprehensible.
The idea was wonderful. The practice was amazing. Actually, what he did was the most amazing thing. And yet――
– Amazing? This much?
Charles spat out with a displeasured face.
– What the hell? If you still have an ace up your sleeve, then show it without being so stingy.
– As you wish. Don’t die for being that much surprised, alright?
Charles stuck out the five fingers of his extended right hand to the front.
As soon as that happened, and with a movement as if opening a sliding door from left to right.
A phrase of five lines was drawn in the empty sky after a moment.
– Geh…
If a person died from surprise, then Moroha would probably be dead.
He didn’t know anyone who would try to spell a「5th Rank Dark Arts」「in the lapse of a few seconds」.
Not even his memories as the Dark King Shu Saura found someone like that.*
*TN: The kanji behind Dark King means Hades, but I will go with Dark King.
Black, hellish flames manifested.
Moroha jumped with no regard to his appearance and evacuated from the building.
The black flames trampled down the rooftop a bit late and licked and melted both the reinforced steel and concrete without distinction.
From mid-air, Moroha overlooked the disastrous scene with a tensed expression.
On the other hand, Charles, who used Moroha’s specialty Black Gehenna at a speed and skillfulness that Moroha couldn’t replicate at all, waved his left hand, looking bored. From left to right, as if moving heavy objects out of the way.
That much completed the 5th Rank Dark Arts Blizzard Specter.
When the pure-white cold waves swirled and gathered together, they changed into countless groups of ghosts and rushed towards him.
Sad and hateful screams mixed during the sound of the violent blizzard.
– The chains of hell catch any kind of ghosts without setting them free!
Moroha hurriedly spelled Bind.
He bound the manifested chain to the rooftop fence of a nearby building and moved his own body there by pulling the chain in.
It would be terrible if he hadn’t get used to aerial maneuvers with Bind.
– You sure are a codswallop guy!
Moroha shouted as he clung to the fence.
He landed on an even distant building and wouldn’t reach Charles unless he shouted.
Moroha’s Clairvoyance captured PSG’s nonsense as if it were a slow-motion video.
A one line phrase with one finger. Five-line phrase with five fingers.
He put them into written form all at once.
This meant that if Moroha used a 1st Rank Dark Arts, then Charles would use a 5th Rank Dark Arts almost as fast as him.
He wanted to complain with “Is this a contest!?”
However, it appeared that Charles’s thinking was different,
– Nonsense. I don’t want to be told that by a guy who handles both Light Techniques and Dark Arts at the same time.
He heard his objection like he was disgusted with Clairvoyance.
That last offense and defense――
A Kuroma wouldn’t be able to evacuate from the building with Godlike Movement and a Shirogane wouldn’t be able to do aerial maneuvers with Bind, he was in a completely difficult position. Moroha could use both so that was why Charles, who was able to say a complaint like that now, pointed it out.
– That’s right, Well, I don’t exactly have abilities to run from place to place only!
Moroha kicked the fence, landed on a rooftop and stared at Charles in the distance.
He was still in range of his Dark Arts. However, if compared to his swords, he was far.
A chance to use a great magic.
– Write――
He began spelling with the index finger of his left hand. And started to chant.
Land of despair Bone-freezing sky Lend me your breath Make their bodies, even their souls freeze
The prosperous and mortal ones are the divine providence of the world The inevitable karma given by the laws of God
Like water continuously flowing downward Taking all heat away
Show me the world where everything stopped As if even time was frozen
I am a person who refuses to understand Those who seek nothing but absoluteness
Show me the extremes of the Eternal beauty that nobody will destroy without being destroyed By anybody and everybody
Ancestral Arts’ Dark Arts Cryoclasm.
Since his opponent was Charles, then that gave him time to use an 8th Rank spell.
However, he tactically concluded that a 6th one should be enough.
And so, while in terms of speed and technique he fell short, he was confident that he wouldn’t lose in a magic power comparison.
A micro-sized, extremely cold hell was released from the left hand of Moroha.
Its power didn’t compare to Charles’s Blizzard Specter, but the cold wave that should have the same「despair」and「nihility」as that raged and attacked by transforming into a storm that scattered Diamond Dust.
Charles, who saw that, readied his right hand, looking bored.
Naturally, with absolutely no enthusiasm unless he was in dismay.
– This is a problem. Do you know how much the mana of Dark Arts drops if the chanting is omitted?
Together with that, he also readied his left hand.
– It’s usually halved. Though it can be raised by training. Still, it’s 73% at best――
Ten fingers waved at once, a double spelling of a five-line phrase.
He put two Black Gehenna into written form at the same time with his two hands.
– ――And a 146% in total with this.
He calmly released a thing called Double 5th Rank Dark Arts and made it crash into Moroha’s Cryoclasm. They cancelled each other out extremely easily. A long drop of sweat went along the spine of Moroha.
– And with this, I’ve confirmed. That yours and Lightning Empress’s mana are certainly rare. At best, I’d say that it’s about 1.5 times higher than mine.
– What a persistent and nonsensical guy you are…
Charles simply said “about 1.5 times”, but――
If common sense was used, if there was a magic power difference to that extent, it wouldn’t amount to victory. It would be overwhelming.
But Charles easily tried to defy common sense.
He was beyond that kind of thing, and that was why he embodied what was called to be an S-Rank.
– Hey, seventh person. It looks like you don’t know, so I’ll give you a pointless advice.
Charles said with a sour look, looking uninterested.
With no pride or show of force, just an expected fact as it was expected with a cold tone of voice.
– I have an 8th incantation, but I can’t use any flashy Dark Arts. But the strongest Dark Savior in the world――is me.
Evidently.
Evidently, evidently, evidently!
Moroha agreed from the bottom of his heart with admiration.
AJ was incredibly surprised when Moroha spelled a simple Dark Arts with a foot in Russia.
That thing, after all, was like a magic trick.
This was a technique――no, a performance.
Charles used it like it was nothing, this kind of thing!
How much hard training did he do and for how many years until he was able to do a thing like this? It was completely unimaginable for Moroha.
The praises, which resembled a deep emotion that impacted him, began to well up one after another.
This man was amazing. He was so great that he couldn’t be described with the word “sugoi”.
*TN: Please note that all the “amazing” used in this scenario come from sugoi. Sugoi, depending on context, can mean either terrible or amazing.
His companions fell into danger because of this guy, and even when he ran to where they were he obstructed him, he had to defeat him crushingly right now. The anger of Moroha didn’t fade at all. Together with that, conflicting emotions ended up gushing forth. They were uncontrollable.
How contradictory was this thing called mind?
(Yeah, I’m also a full-fledged human being, huh…)
He really didn’t know the reason why he was called a monster.
– Thank you for your advice. I understand now.
Moroha grasped the long sword with both hands and readied it.
Poor Dark Arts wouldn’t work against this man.
If so, he would became sharp.
– Oo…h.
He roared and ran.
He jumped from rooftop to rooftop and ran to where Charles was, aiming for the reach of a Shirogane.
– Hmm. Many can do so, but making up one’s mind is quite the pain.
Charles behaved like a spoiled child and mocked him.
But he didn’t seem to be bored.
He put both hands diagonally downward as if feeling the wind.
And, the ten fingers waved.
He spelled a total of 10 1st Rank Dark arts, one for each finger.
He took a deep breath, let the mana surge and the onibi in his right eye lit up. It was dyed in a bewitching red.*
*TN: Onibi means will-o’-wisp/friar’s lantern/ignis fatuus.
Finally, he showed the true nature of “Le Rouge et bleu” and fired Ice and Flame Dark Arts like a barrage.
If Moroha avoided this, he would never be able to reach Charles.
So, he attacked.
– Suraaa――
He put all the prana he had into his sword, placed it on a long sword wave and released it.
He put even more prana into it and released a second attack.
He put much more prana into it and released a third attack!
Ancestral Arts’ Light Technique Jupiter.
The destructive waves, which were filled with pure-white sparkles, bared their fangs and bit and tore Charles’s Dark Arts barrage head-on.
Moroha broke through there.
Three more buildings――until he reached Charles!
The closer and closer he got, the faster the pressure of the barrage became.
If so, he should also increase the prana.
He released an even more powerful Jupiter and opened a path.
– Ooooooooooo――
Two more buildings.
– ――Raaah
One more building.
As he did so.
He heard a strange noise.
It sounded like a crack developed in a hard iron.
Moroha opened his eyes and stared at the sword he held.
The fairly polished beautiful sword blade though one wouldn’t say it was like a mirror.
In it, the line of an ugly crack was born.
It was about to self-collapse, without being able to withstand the excessively strong prana of Moroha.
– How pathetic. Is it even proportionately armored? You were able to strain it well with Edward.
The voice of Charles sounded like he pressed for an answer.
Mana was kneaded well like a needle.
The skilled in battle who didn’t miss the small chance to win and played his trump card only when it counted. *
*TN: Trump card is the furigana reading for secret art.
For the first time, Charles, who was with eyes-half closed like a meditating ascetic, used Dark Arts combined with chanting.
– Listen and respect me I am the empty sky And the empty sky is everything
Something snapped inside his body and scattered, becoming a small impact.
The sleeves and hems of his suit fluttered violently.
And――Charles’s body flew in the air.
He 「Flew」and not「Jumped」.*
*TN: This sentence in Japanese puts the verbs in brackets (the Kanji specifically) because both verbs have the same structure.
He soared high in the sky while drawing a spiral, then stood still in the heavens and glared at him.
The “Magician of the Eiffel Tower” carried the sun on his back like a solar eclipse.
That made Moroha look up at the area which was once his absolute throne and groaned.
– What… was that “I can’t use flashy Dark Arts”…? You liar…
The truth was that not even the Dark King knew of its existence, of the technique to fly freely in the sky.
– Nonsense. This is a cheap technique compared to an incantation.
Charles began a heavy bombing of Dark Arts.
Moroha intercepted the burst of flames and blizzard that rained incessantly from the sky with Jupiter.
One swing, two swings, a crack developed in the sword blade each time it was swung.
A defensive-only state.
The sword wouldn’t reach that height.
In other words, he wouldn’t reach Charles as a Shirogane.
At the four swing, the sword of Moroha finally shattered.
This was Charles Saint-Germain’s The Origin.
According to the name given by the White Knight Organization――
It was Tenkuu Hishou’s Overlord Overwatch.
*TN: Tenkuu hishou roughly means “flying in the sky”.