「Bind SlashAstral Bind Slash![1]」(Hinata)
「Otto!」(Yuuki) 「……」(Hero?)
His voice sounds jested, but the response doesn’t show any fret either. Yuuki wards off the shock wave with knife[2] he holds in his hand. It’s called a Snake Sword[3], a unique legend class weapon that Yuuki possesses. This weapon is flexible, though it usable as a knife, it can extend and be used as a whip because the weapon has a trait that makes it possible to change its shape freely. But, more than its status and performance as a legend class weapon, it has an ability to absorb a fixed amount of damage. Until it reaches its limit, the knife can nullify all attacks it receives. However, once its capacity is reached it can’t be used until it recycles in one week. This time, Yuuki used its ability as he sat down. The knife absorbed all the shock waves without fail. 「Ah? It becomes impossible to move. It can’t be helped, I’ll leave the fight to you.」(Yuuki)
The Hero indifferently accepted Yuuki’s request.
The voice is devoid of emotion. The answer is as if it was scripted beforehand. The Hero reminds her of a ruthless killing machine. No, there’s not even a ruthless emotion, it’s just carrying out its orders, a Doll. Hinata sees her appearance and thinks. She also defeated her enemies without any emotion. She felt that her former self resembled the Hero who was now in front of her. Hinata holds her katana pointing the blade at her opponent’s eyes[4] and confronts the Hero. And, she prays that Fritz and the others in the rear will escape quickly. When Yuuki appeared a while ago, she sensed a barrier was put up surrounding the school. She believes it probably has an effect to obstruct teleportation but they may be able to escape by『Transfer Magic』once they go out of the school. In the worst case, if they run to the Saint’s church next door, it’s also possible to transfer to the headquarters using the teleportation magic formation. Even if the barrier was set up around the school, they can escape once they get out of the school. Therefore Hinata wants them to move into action quickly...... However, it can be said that such a chance didn’t really exist. But what Fritz and others didn’t noticed was that Kagari (In other words, Kazaream) was leading her men and waiting in the school grounds. Because it’s still early morning, there are few people. Although it’s time for students to go to school, since the dormitory is separate from this place, it is quite deserted. Even assuming he noticed the gathered men, they could deal with him either way. I other words, the escape route from the schoolyard has been blocked. Fritz didn’t notice it, but he hesitated to believe his own intuition and taking action. It’s only taken a several seconds. However as a result, in the short time under a minute all conclusions are resolved.
Hinata concentrated all of her attention on the Hero. It’s no use to worrying Fritz and the others. The thing she should do now is eliminate the enemy in front of her and buy time. Hinata crossed swords with the Hero without taking notice of Yuuki who makes a racket, still immobilized in the chair. A natural talent and effort. Hinata takes pride in her ability that is on a near genius level, it’s a fact that she remained undefeated until her defeat against Rimuru. That is not only in sword skill but even in magic.
The magic is activated without chanting together with blades of wind that attack the Hero from all direction, Hinata’s katana draws near the Hero. In contrast, the Hero ignores the blades of wind and receives Hinata’s katana with her own katana. Though countless wind blades hit the Hero’s body, they all turned into light particles and turned into magic power. It was completely prevented because of the Unique Skill『Absolute Defense』that the Hero possessed. Hinata used countless magic, but everything was blocked by the Hero’s『Absolute Defense[5]』and didn’t give any effect. And also, Hinata’s swordsmanship is completely repelled by the Hero as if she could predict it. Above all else........ Hinata’s katana was broken into pieces by one flash of the Hero’s katana. With this it’s the third time. Is it the difference between their swords? Or is it the difference between their skills........? Hinata’s katana was easily smashed by the Hero. Though the blade is reforms whenever it breaks, it definitely shows that Hinata is in a disadvantageous position. From what she had heard from other people regarding the Hero’s abilities, there’s no indication when the Unique Skill『Absolute Severance』is used. Still, Hinata doesn’t panic. The Hero’s sword skill is higher than her. Magic also doesn’t work. Still, Hinata doesn’t give up. She handles it gently. And she waits for a chance. Her budded “Hero’s egg” and her own talents, make her spirit strong. Above all else, because she has people whom she should protect and there is a place she must return to. Little by little, Hinata’s sword speed rises. Her concentration increases, and a crack appear on the eggshell........ Hinata runs up to the height of the existence called Hero. 「I will not lose! Even if my opponent is the invincible Hero. I will defeat you and I will advance beyond you! Take this, Melt Slash!!」(Hinata) Hinata challenged the Hero to a match with the fastest, strongest technique she has. There are no petty tricks. The exaltation makes the throbbing heartbeats not felt until now. And, while she is exchanging blows with the Hero’s sword, she realizes the increase in her sword’s force. That single blow was the strongest blow with all Hinata’s strength as she broke her eggshell.
「――Melt Slash!!」(Hinata)
「Hero can’t lose because it‘s “Hero” you know. An outrageous existence is what Hero is.」 (Yuuki)
「U, uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!」(Fritz)
She tries to use Extra HealSuper Recovery Magic but it didn’t activate. She thought she heard someone voice. The voice of a crying girl. （Ah, I can still fight. At least, those children and Fritz can escape.......） ――Yes, it’s all right. Those children can escape safely. （Is that so? That’s a relief for now......）
「U, uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!」(Fritz)
She desperately pulled back her almost gone consciousness, and Hinata spoke those words in one breath. Hinata can’t be saved. But, the children including Fritz can escape. Who was it? Though she might have just misheard it, the words that were told seem to be true.
And the children who were looking at the exchange, Kenya,
Dazzling light is generated in Kenya’s hand and is condensed to one sword’s sweep. And the sword is swung, Kenya uses Hinata’s technique by imitating it after seeing Hinata use it. The eyes are blinded by the light from the sword flash. Though it was caught by the katana the Hero holds, the strike succeeded in tearing up several of the Hero’s hairs and make them flutter in the air.眩い光が剣也の手に生At the same time, Alice moved. Their cooperation was perfect as they are connected by Telepathy, everyone is wrapped by the space manipulation magic formation that Alice invented. Even Hinata who was in Fritz’s embrace after she received a single blow from the Hero. Such a chain of events occurred in an instant.
……
What remained in the place when the light of Alice’s Space Manipulation Magic Formation disappears were only two people. It’s only Yuuki and the Hero with no name. On the classroom’s floor is the red puddle of blood which didn’t dry yet which vividly proved that the present event was reality.
The hero doesn’t answer Yuuki’s murmuring. As there was nothing, her expression was not clouded either.
Yuuki doesn’t show any particularly worried expression, there’s also no sign of regretting the failure either. When Yuuki tells Kagari and her subordinates that were waiting in the schoolyard to return, as if nothing had happened, he returned to the Freedom Association Headquarters. The Hero with no name too turns her eyes to look at the tear in space that restored in an instant. The light of Will appeared on her iris-less eyes, the aura she gave off was as if it was the expression from a different person that has begun to appear and disappear. 「So. It started now.........」(Hero.....?)
She heard the voice calling her. Hinata roused her fading consciousness and listen to the voice.
Ah, it sounds so sad...... I’m sorry Nicholas. Fritz too..... I can’t see anymore. I only judged it from the presence, it might not be so. Did you live your life to the fullest? ―― No, there’s still something I left undone. Even though I found a place for me to return to after great trouble, you know? Do you regret it? ―― No, I don’t regret it. If I regret it, I’m rude to people whom I sacrificed. Do you still want to live? ―― I wonder which? I don’t want to die, I think? However it seems to be impossible.
Hinata accepted the offer. “Thank you,” she muttered in small voice to the girl, Chloe, Hinata and Chloe’s soul mixed together as one and leapt through the barrier of time. To a far-off past And now, the endless journey of the girl called Chloe and Hinata begins.
Nicholas confirms Hinata’s death and wails. No matter how many times『Resurrection』is used there’s no reaction. Nicholas keeps chanting the magic desperately while embracing her closely to warm the cold body that grew even colder. Unnoticed, his two hands were restrained by Fritz, but he broke free. “If you disturb me then I will kill you,” so he think. Then, interrupting Nicholas and Fritz,
Calmly, Leonard who took the position as the leader of the Holy Knight reported, but this is a cruel reality for Nicholas
Nicholas screamed. There was nobody who answered, Nicholas’s words sounded out emptily. Nicholas also understood it. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it. In this world with magic, at this place he prays for God’s miracle. That day, the death of the former leader of the Holy Knight Hinata Sakaguchi was confirmed.
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