Assassin Pride Volume 12 Chapter 5
LESSON: V ~The darkness’ social order~
(Unedited)
The oldest girl with the rifle on her back answered back with an irritating attitude.
「Ah yeah right, we really don’t have any room to save you and the likes. Everyone, do you best to survive today!」
「…………」
Unable to accept that hostile gaze, Melida cast her eyes down.
Surely there were human abandoned in the night world due to various reasons──
Like her tutor Kufa or the newly bonded Freeisa.
Kufa group, the former inhabitant of the night world shared a common thing.
A strong thing could be felt in all of their words and action, 《A shadow》……..
It hinted at their fierce past, Melida became unable to bear it.
The rifle back girl high-handedly crossed her arms.
「You are, nobles?」
「……Yeah」
「I know with just a glance. That beauty, that refines, completely different from our origin」
To put it in a nice way she was matured, to put it in a bad way she had a very worn out attitude.
Mule couldn’t bear it and tried to retort. Salacha and Melida secretly stopped her.
Melida lightly looked around left and right as she tried to continue the talk.
「Are you the only ones here? What about the adults?」
「There were, but they all died」
The one who answered was a boy from the group.
Even though his tone was meek, there was no shade of sadness, Melida felt sorry for them.
Elise also frowned a little.
「……were you also attacked by the ghosts just now?」
「That’s wrong. They come swooping down, but they don’t hurt anyone」
「But, if you’re caught you’re done for, the adult said so」
The other children added on, the whole story wasn’t quite comprehensible.
As Melida looked at her face, the oldest girl bluntly told them.
「──Those thing are《the nameless ones》. They are the same as written in the miner’s journal. They are not Lycanthrope. 『The figure of fear a dying man feels』」
「The fear of death……」
The oldest girl pressed her chest with her right and left hands.
「They certainly don’t hurt you. However, they are《scary》……. If their figures come before your eyes, no matter how much of a splendid adult you are, you will be too scared to do anything. You’ll be afraid of living──You will feel it will be better to die than thinking about it and threw away your life」
She cast down her eyelids, the shadow fell on her eyes.
「Everyone had gone like that. Leaving us here……」
Salacha couldn’t help but press her mouth.
「You, you’re living in such a dangerous place? Somewhere safer……」
「A safe place!?」
The oldest girl flared at her like a hungry stray cat.
She violently swung her hand and pointed around.
「Where is a safe place!? Tell me!」
「……」
「Didn’t I tell you, those things just wouldn’t hurt you」
She spit out an attitude not fitting her current age.
「The equipment here still works. There is water. Although on the surface are crawled with the《nameless ones》, the Lycanthropes are afraid of them they won’t come close. ……it’s still many folds better than immediately being torn and eaten」
Melida helpless felt very sad.
The rifle back girl was only a little older than the rest, she was only around the age of her kouhai. She reminded of her adorable kouhai, Teechika. If she were continued to be exposed to the cold wind of the night world, would her smile be clouded…….
As Melida group didn’t say anything anymore, a sole boy walked out from the group.
「Nein-nee-chan」
The oldest girl was called so. It seemed that was her name.
「Nee-chan, why are you so angry. These people came to save everyone!」
「Eh?」
Melida group didn’t have time to ask back, the remaining eight kids suddenly became active.
Exchanging hand gestures and body gestures, they were all greatly excited.
「These people are mana capable ones! They’re Flandre’s knight-sama!」
「From her hand fire “baーn!” came out and blew away the《nameless ones》!」
「Will you bring us back to Flandre!?」
「That’s right! We can eat warm messiah as much as we like!」
Inside the gushed up cheers more than ever, Melida held up her right and left palms in fluster.
「Wait, wait a minute, everyone. We are……」
It was obvious why they raised their hope.
Right in front of the refugees abandoned in the night world, the mana holding knights appeared. Surely anyone would think their objective was to rescue the refugees. Without a doubt the children’s hearts were dancing about the non-life threatening lives back at Flandre.
However, it was not so…….
Melida group right now was also chased by the Burning Calvary Regiment (Guild Phoenix), arriving here at this mine was only a coincidence. They weren’t certain of the escape route or where they were in the night world. Having lost sight of the adults, Kufa group, they were at a loss.
They had no basic to bring the kids back to Flandre.
──Were the children sensitively aware of Melida group’s guilt.
They suddenly stopped talking.
Everyone blankly stared at them……..
One girl only said.
「……Are we wrong?」
Melida painfully swallowed her saliva.
She defiantly put her right and left hands on her waist.
She declared in complete desperation.
「──Of course, we come to save you all! Since we’re here there’s no need to worry!」
And then after one beat, in the water supply cave, the children’s loud cheer echoed.
† † †
The oldest girl was in a furious but helpless state.
「You seriously said something irresponsible!」
Melida group was dragged into her own room and the first thing she said was a complaint.
After she carefully closed the door, she pressed the four daughters of the knight duke houses.
「How are you going to do it?」
She pointed at the door. To be precise, at the children merrily started to prepare for the journey.
「You all are victims right? I know it from your looks. You should have no guarantee to bring them back to Flandre! Even so, you made everyone feel like they would be saved. How are you going to do it?」
「I’ll do something about it」
Melida only answered just that.
Then, she signaled her three close friends.
「We can’t just leave you here anyway」
「That’s right」
Mule shrugged her shoulder and agreed.
「Our aim won’t change. If we reach Tindarian’s ruins, Kufa-sensei and onii-sama and onee-sama, and the Black Sky Machine Regiment (Guild Ordyne) will lend their strengths. There, after we achieved our objective……we can all come back to Flandre」
That time ── If the time travel was a success, they could learn about the truth of history that Flandre was hiding. Using that information as the negotiation trump card, they wouldn’t have any fear of being chase by the Calvary Regiment (Guild). Everyone could swung their arms greatly and return home.
Nein spit out in a fed up state.
「If only it could go that easy」
She turned her body and started to prepare for the trip by searching the wardrobe.
It seemed the outer equipments stretched out from the water supply cave were the miners’ residence section. It looked like the oldest Nein took one room all by herself. There was an adult bed and an old futon. On the wooden table there was several live rifle ammunitions………
As Elise stretched her hand out of curiosity, Nein was sharp sighted and turned back.
「Don’t touch them. Those are the final bullets」
Elise withdrew her hand with a twitch as she looked back at Nein.
「……It isn’t effective against Lycanthrope」
「But it is against human」
Nein clasped the bullets into a bunch and thrust them into her pocket.
「The children’s shares and my share, all perfectly nine shots. These will be used if there is really nothing left. With that everyone will be happy」
Melida understood what she meant, she became sadder than ever.
Nein carried the rifle that didn’t suit her height on her back. Even though saying preparing for departure the only thing she brought was only a knapsack. It seemed she had no special lingering emotion or attachment to this mine.
Salacha heaved a small anxious sigh and raised the lantern.
「What about the light?」
「Ah」
Melida was made to realize.
Right………Melida group was being chased by the dangerous monster Jabberwocky which could sniff out nectar’s smell. It would still be fine if there were only the mana capable ones, four daughters of the knight duke houses only, but they might be unable to escape completely bringing along nine children.
On the other hand, light was essential in the darkness of the night world.
The extremely dangerous Jabberwocky………
And more than anything else, leading them was the most power lycanthrope race, the vampire. They fled from the attack back at Carna Navel with the caravan, then ran toward this mine, being able to escape twice was miraculous. They should think that being seen again would be the end of the line.
Only one, being oblivious to the current situation Nein raised her eyebrows.
「Although I don’t really get it, but if we can’t use nectar what about this?」
Saying so the thing she raised up was a 《bird cage》.
Its size was no bigger than the lantern. Packed inside the fences were a small blue stone.
The stone itself was letting out faint light…….Melida group noticed its nature.
「This is, Nemesis!?」
「That’s right. Occasionally we can pick them up in this mine. The quality is low though」
Even so, to shine the way in the pitch black darkness, this was sufficed.
Nein bluntly handed over the cage.
「The《Nameless ones》aren’t affected by nectar light and somehow on the contrary it lures in the Lycanthrope so I hate it. Therefore we always use this」
While Melida placed her left hand on the bottom of the cage, she clasped the hanger and accepted.
Then she smiled.
「Thank you, Nein」
「Eh……」
「Before, you save us from the attacking《nameless ones》right? The one who lead the puzzled us with『quickly』was you, right?」
Nein turned her face a way “Ha”.
「……I only do it because I had too」
Then she went out of the room with quick pace like that. Melida group too hurriedly followed.
「You’re slow, nee-chan!」
In the water supply cave, eight children altogether were getting tired of waiting. Since it seemed they each had packed up modest treasures of themselves into the knapsack, they were looking with pleasant feelings.
Nein lively called out.
「Everyone, have you put water into the flasks?」
「Yeーs!」
「I’m hungry」
One of them said, “ku”, she pressed her rumbling belly.
Nein a little awkwardly peeped at Melida group.
「……I’m sorry but we don’t have any food to share to you」
Melida smiled wryly, she circled the backpack to the front of her body.
She opened the lid and picked up the mobile food wrapped inside aluminum foil.
「Everybody, can you eat chocolate?」
「「「Choco────!?」」」
The children eyes glittered with great joy.
Although a bar of chocolate divided to everyone it would be small, they all bit into that little piece of happiness little by little.
Staring at each of those smiling faces, Melida turned toward her three close friends.
「It has gotten lively, hasn’t it?」
Elis group responded with smiles.
「It won’t be a《trip》if it isn’t like this」
It seemed the water supply cave was once the miners’ exchange place, on the wall map of this whole mine was embedded. Apparently the children were well informed of the tunnel like passages from it.
They all looked up at the map and lively exchanged opinions.
「When you noble-nee-chan enter, was there a castle?」
「Castle?」
As Melida tilted her head, Nein added in.
「There is a fort built cutting through the mountain. If you passed by it, I think it should be very conspicuous」
「I don’t think there was」
While saying so Elise group looked at each other, they also nodded in response.
Having run out of the forest the four found a door on the steep wall, they flew inside it sink or swim. The only stood out building was………. other than darkness, nothing else.
「Then that must have been the《West Tunnel》」
One of the boy said and pointed at the map. His index finger moved up and down, left and right.
「There are many exits and entrances. If you go up the spiral staircase and exit the summit, you can pass through the mountain trail and exit to the north. It seemed from the eastern big gate it’s an eternal forest」
Melida took out the interstellar compass from her pocket.
「Where is that big gate?」
When she asked, the children all at once pointed at one direction on the wall.
As Melida turn toward the same way, she held up the compass on her hand.
She raised it as high as her eyes………
She nodded. The three close friends also peeked at the board and exchanged eyes signal.
The golden pointer which was showing the direction of Tindaria’s ruins was roughly pointing at East──
「That’s it then」
Melida put back the compass and declared.
「Everyone, will you show us the way to the eastern big gate?」
「Okay, leave it to us!」
The full of vitality boys scrambled for the nemesis lanterns while taking the lead. Although Nein chided them she followed after, looking at that liveliness Melida group of four let out wry smiles.
As they did that, the small girl looked up at Melida group while fidgeting for some reasons.
Melida leaned over a little and titled her little head.
「What is it?」
The young girl floated a charming smile and thrust out her hand.
「Hold, my hand!」
Melida was drawn in and let out a smile, she clasped the girl’s small fingers.
「Yes. Let’s keep up with them, shall we?」
Although they were in a hopeless fleeing drama, since who knows when their number increased greatly──
Just like that the travel party left the former relaxing place, the water supply cave, behind.
Fortunately, it seemed that if it were this mine, the refugee children were very well acquainted. The safe secret path the 《nameless ones》didn’t know, the vast hall with no fear of collapsing……
Along the way, they even had time to chat.
「Everybody, since when have you lived here?」
When Melida asked, all the kid answered.
「I’m always here!」
「I’m here since I was born, too」
「……I heard that there was a safe residence in this mine, and went with nii-chan last year」
Although nii-chan was dead, the boy added and everyone went silent.
Nein opened her mouth to smooth it over.
「I was told that, since long long ago, this place was the kingdom of the refugees or something」
「Kingdom?」
「In the olden time, from corner to corner of this wide tunnel, human ruled, a settlement unreached by Lycanthrope. However since who knows when the《nameless ones》crawled out from the bottom of hell, the human diminished slowly as those thing increased……Right now, the only safe place is around that water supply cave, and we are the last survivors」
Furthermore reasonably thinking, in the near future, the 《Refugee’s Kingdom》would be destroyed.
Since only the children survived, the night world environment was too harsh……….
Nein who was a little younger than Melida group almost set her eyes on death.
Melida muttered as if biting her teeth.
「Thanks god we made it in time」
When she did that, Nein said back while still keeping her stubbornness.
「Although from now on there is no guarantee that things will go well at all」
「Surely things will. Let’s all return to Flandre, shall we?」
As she patiently appealed, for some reasons, Nein bit her lips at their naïve.
「……No matter what will do, Flandre won’t take us in now, will they?」
Then, the one who gave a helping hand was the wise Mule.
「Don’t worry. The law in Flandre──eeto, states that they have to accept refugee from the night world and return them to social life」
Although more than half of the children couldn’t understand, the boy at the head who was raising the nemesis lantern turned back with a bright smile.
「I heard that there was always a dark side to a good story」
Well, what a realistic kid!
Although Melida and the rest were shocked, it was also true that there were sections that came to mind.
「……It seems the entrance inspection is harsh」
It was the story from none other than the refugee from the night world Kufa.
It seemed when he and his mother barely arrived for dear life, the entrance administration bureau was hesitated to accept them. Although it was thanks to the law they were not driven away…….as the result, the young Kufa were forced into the especially harshest among the lower residential areas Shangarta.
Going away from the capital, Flandre’s within territory became different.
……..Supposing if these children were subjected to the same situation, what would happen?
Melida was at a loss for words.
However at that point, the one who made a follow up was somehow Elise.
「It’ll be fine」
Why she nodded full of confident and pointed at her side.
At the face of the girl she was holding hand with.
「Because this onee-chan is one of the most talented person」
「Eh eh!? M, me!?」
Suddenly duke Salacha Shicksal became the target of attention from the children.
The children’s responses were like this.
「Heーe amaziーng!」
「I can’t see it at all」
「Auu……」
Salacha curled up at the as they pleased criticism.
Melida and Mule or the likes looked at each other face and laughed carefree.
「That’s right」
Slightly lightened her footstep, Melida spoke to everyone.
「If Flandre’s official is being mean to you just tell them this.『The three big knight duke houses won’t stay silent』!」
The laughing voice echoed across the hall.
As they kept walking like that, it seemed they were closing on the tunnel’s exit. The most wonderful thing was that they didn’t see the scary《nameless ones》figures even once.
However, the oldest Nein frowned in doubt.
「Strange」
They could feel that her grip on the rifle sling became a little stiff.
「They’ve never been quiet like this. Just why is that……」
However, it seemed the only kid became serious was only her. The remaining eight kid was running off with the boy leading the head. Already, if they went up this last stair they would immediately come outside.
「Only one left!」
Not only the boys, the little girl holding Melida’s hand also pulled her.
「Onee-chan, let’s go?」
It seemed she felt hesitated again since the first time meeting them. Melida darted her eyes around.
Nein let out a loud voice in aware of danger.
「Everyone, wait!」
As she did that, the boys stood still with painful reluctance.
Very much, it seemed if they clearly heard her they would become obedient……….
Nein lowered her tone.
「We’ll go with everyone. With everyone?」
Then, she signaled Melida with her eyes.
「……Outside is dangerous right?」
Four people of the knight duke houses stiffened their faces. Melida let go of the girl’s hand.
While she was retaining the nectar, she put up the nemesis lantern…….
Opening at the end of the stair was something looked like a natural grotto called the 《big gate》in name.
Though even illuminated, the end of it couldn’t be seen──
The bare rock continued below their eyes. If they went down the mountain gently they would enter the forest like the children’s words. The interstellar compass was also urging Melida group’s back.
「It’s alright, if we don’t light up the nectar, the Jabberwocky won’t find us」
As if saying that to herself, Melida boldly stepped out. The three close friends, as well as the children starting with Nein also followed suit.
The air was becoming clearer──A cool breeze gazed the mountain surface.
Breathing that in as motivating force, Melida group fastened their pace.
「Let’s quickly go into the forest. Try not to be found be Lycanthrope──」
「Don’t hate things like Lycanthrope」
Whose voice was that.
Melida couldn’t help but stopped in fright. It seemed that was right. On their path orange flames bloomed and those budding flowers spread out left and right like chain, in a blink of an eye the numerous flames surrounded Melida group and the kids.
And that was not all.
While the sword reflected the light it was thrust at them. The children froze their bodies.
Among them, a single sword with fire spark stepped out from the encirclement.
「Because the《stray》around here are all hunted down. Haha, the night world is a little less scarier!」
「That voice……」
More than anything, that lively laughing way was, but.
Melida understood the opponent true body before anyone else. The orange flame was raised highly. The thing showed up from the other side of the darkness was an unidentified gender large build silhouette. Carrying the cannon like pistol and the pirate curved blade (saber), that was the shogun of the Burning Calvary Regiment (Guild Phoenix) ──
「Captain Scotch Schneisen!?」
His thick make up applied face formed a sinister smile by the lantern’s shadow.
† † †
「I’ve been chilling here for a while!」
Being thrust at her back, Melida stumbled her steps.
Melida, Elise, Salacha and Mule had been captured. As Nein group had said, exiting the eastern gate there was a fort cutting through the mountain, it seemed that it had become captain Schneisen group’s stronghold.
The equipments here were different from inside the mine, as expected everything had become rock salt.
The mottled lattice that closed the prison seemed to be easy to burst with mana, however………..
It seemed other than captain Schneisen, the fort was packed with dozens of other knights.
They were the pursuers from Flandre. When they thought to have shaken them off on the sea, these guys also landed on the night world.
Over the lattice, captain Schneisen put up his index finger with triumphant air.
Although they were wanted they were the knight duke houses’ daughters. It seemed even though the other knights treated them politely, unfortunately the captain didn’t understand that authority. The prison guarding knights were in an anxious state.
「President Almedia has seen through what you’re scheming. You’re aiming at the said ruins right? Then if I just lay a net I’ll caught you all!」
「……How meticulous」
Melida at the very least returned sarcasm.
The ones being put in prison were only the knight duke house daughters. Nein group of nine kids were free.
They lashed out at captain Schneisen as if that was natural.
「What are you doing to nee-chan!」
Even though they were pushed into prison, they all at once threw out objections like small birds.
In the kids’ eyes, captain Schneisen was surely reflected as a bad chief.
「We don’t do anything bad!」
「Release us from this jail!」
「You masculine woman!」
「It’s feminine man」
「Whichever is fine. It’s bad taste!」
Captain Schneisen took in a deep breath.
「Silent!!」
With the voice which might echo across the fort, he made the children tremble.
With body gestures and hand gestures like that of a monster, he glared at the nine innocent kids.
「I’ll eat those who don’t listen starting from their heads!」
The pitiful children’s faces went pale.
A resolute boy said back.
「I, I heard there was a law!」
「……FUN」
Captain Schneisen drew back his upper body looking interested.
「If there were no wanderers protection law, I wouldn’t have to pick up you extra windbags. Is that clear? You all are OMAKE. If you obediently do as I say I’ll bring you back to Flandre. Understood? Answer!」
「……」
The children were trembling and couldn’t answer.
From inside the ceil, Melida gently called out.
「Everyone, do as he says will you?」
There, the kids pursed their lips and reluctantly nodded.
Captain Schneisen signaled with his chin, the prison guarding knight brought the nine kids up stair.
Just before that, Captain Schneisen stretched his hand「Uh oh」
「You have to throw this away」
He picked up Nein’s precious rifle.
As expected Nein also stretched out her hand to resist.
「Give it back! My father instructed it to me!」
「This is too much of a toy for you. Get it? By the wanderer protection law!」
He thrust out his index finger and stopped Nein who leaned her body.
「The city entrance administration bureau can confiscate anything the refugees bring in from the night world. And since I can’t let you act violently with this. Hey, keep moving! Or you want to be thrown away with it too!?」
「……」
Nein strongly bit her lips.
Melida sent a fierce gaze from beyond the ceil. Certainly the captain’s argument was also right………
Schneisen threw the rifle to the knight guarding the prison. Having accepted it he gave a little nudge to the kids’ backs, then the sound of footsteps went far away……..Finally their figures disappeared to above the stair.
Even though they opposed each other in idea and standings, they were still Calvary Regiment (Guild). Although it seemed they wouldn’t do anything bad to the kids………
Anyway, Melida group had to care for themselves first of all.
It seemed there was still thing captain Schneisen wanted to say.
He spread his left and right arms wide pointing at the surrounding space of the prison.
「My target is not you alone. The son of Shicksal house and the Leybolt foundation’s pierrot! Finally that creepy wicked teacher! Now then, where are they?」
「……We got separated」
「Don’t speak without thinking!」
Even being told so Melida group had no other choice.
Captain Schneisen forcefully snorted and turned his heel.
「Well whatever, they must have been hiding somewhere around here. If I keep you like bird in a cage, they will brazenly appear, that’s for sure. We’ll catch them──」
「Aunty」
Melida stepped closer to the lattice and called him to a halt.
Captain Schneisen called himself《The mother of pure thought (mom)》. Although his gender was unknown, treating him like a female following that policy Melida group’s own respect.
The readied to leave captain came to a stopped. He looked with only side face
Melida sincerely appealed.
「Please put out the fire burning in the fort right away」
「Why?」
「We’ll be found by the Lycanthrope!」
Captain Schneisen turned back with his whole body.
Of course, he showed a smile like hearing something stupid.
「Hahha……I won’t buy that bait. You plan to run away using darkness right? The nectar light must never be put out in the night world! That’s an iron rule!」
Melida strongly gripped the lattice.
「The Jabberwocky is coming!」
For a moment, captain Schneisen’s expression became frightened.
However, he undauntedly took a step forward.
「……The Jabberwocky had died out. They’re beasts in legend!」
Right after he said that.
There was a strange hair raising voice coming from outside the fort. Captain Schneisen jumped his face.
「What’s that!?」
He shook his giant body and dashed up the stair. He left Melida group.
He was the same as the four captives who worried about the outside. The only fortunate thing was that there was a window. Although a little tall, if they climbed the wall and raised their body, they could barely grip the bars.
They could look down at the outside of the fort.
However, over there, the regrettable scene entered their eyes.
The black shadows tightly covered the mountain surface completely ──
Those were《nameless ones》! And their number was vast. Some tumbled out of the eastern big gate, some fell down the summit like wave. Undoubtedly their aim was this fort. If they were surrounded like this there wouldn’t be any place to escape.
The knights at the watch tower trembled in fear.
From somewhere, captain Schneisen’s voice echoed while shaking the wall.
「Enemy attack!! Eneeeemy attaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack──────────!!」
Melida removed her hands from the window frame. And the other three people took turn confirming what happened outside.
「Why those thing come here!?」
They immediately knew this was an unbelievable situation.
Even the other Lycanthrope feared the《nameless ones》and didn’t enter the mine. They also heard it from Nein group, they shouldn’t have been able to leave the mine.
Going against that behavior, just why they advanced outside their territory?
If speaking about the possible possibility………..
As if answering her thought, the shriek from the far away sky came roaring.
That was the ear splitting piercing cry! Shredding the wind, the dragon like figures came flying. Their total number was nine. The smooth faces and pitch black skin, with those fiendish claws…….Alas, what is this! The group of Jabberwocky that laid ruins to Carna Navel continuously gathered toward the fort.
On the back of the one soaring at the head, a human figure was mounting.
Even though their distance was so far that he looked like a speck, ominously they felt that their eyes met.
And his lips seemed to move.
──Now then.
It looked like he said that. And continued.
──I’ll feed your blood to the Jabberwocky.
He, the vampire Theodoa raised one arm. With his index finger he complicatedly stirred the air. It seemed like a magician kneading a spell. Or that was the conductor orchestra ── Being agitatedly stirred up, the《nameless ones》raised a silent voice and plunged to the fort.
The knights quickly dashed to the front gate and burst out high flame (mana).
Captain Schneisen took position at the middle of the fortress, he unsheathed his curve blade.
「Enga────aage!!」
The timber of the knights drawing sword rang. And that started the battle, first, one of the Jabberwocky breathed out fire. It crashed into the castle gate and easily blew it up. The《nameless ones》’s army flooded to that opened raid. Undauntedly the knights stepped on the rubbles and charged.
The swords clashing sounds appeared ──
Following, the Jabberwocky continuously arrived on top of the fort and rained down fire breaths while flying about.
The towers were smashed into smithereens, the rock salt castle was scrapped off like candy.
Inside the prison room, Melida leaned her body while shouting.
「Sala!」
The girl who already understood released sakura color mana and took stance.
「《Breeze Blast》……!」
As air coiled around her palm, it emitted the glittering like a blade with mass.
Melida walked to her side and crossed her right and left palm while pushing them out.
「《Phantom Blade Bent Sword》!」
The golden mana sharply converged as she gripped the sword formed from it with her opposite hand.
The two matched their breathing and stepped up at the same time. The air was brushed away as dirt flew up.
「「Ha!!」」
Melida mowed in front of her eyes, Salacha pushed out her right arm. First the golden slash tore the prison lattice to pieces, next the unleashed sakura spear tip blew away everything ahead.
A grand crumbling sound appeared.
The ruins of the rock salt smashed to very small pieces were slammed to the wall on the other side. There was no presence coming back to the prison. Melida group of four stepped on the debris and successfully escaped from the prison.
(illu)
From the other side of the wall, endless roar, sword clash and finally scream could be heard………
「We can’t stay here」
Inside the darkness, Melida looked over her close friends’ faces.
「Everyone go find the exit and quickly escape first!」
Elise extended her hand at her looking worried.
「What about Lita?」
Melida clasped her finger and put in strength, then she let go.
「I can’t just leave Nein group」
Melida group had no idea what the outcome of this battle would be. However, at least the sinless children must not become the sacrifice.
They had to move away from the battlefield! Melia group nodded at each other and ran out.
After going up the stair they split into two groups. Leaving the exit route to her close friend, Melida aimlessly went up further on the stairs.
The prison was at the basement of the fort. The exit and entrance must be somewhere here. In that case, what if the room the kids were taken is on the second floor and above? That was her thought shot in the dark.
It seemed all the knights were all elsewhere. The inside of the fort was deserted.
There was a window blowing through in the hall, Melida only stopped her feet once.
She tried to look down.
The progress of battle almost made her want to cover her eyes………..
The front castle gate had already been broken through. The 《Nameless ones》were surging into the open space. Fighting against the enemies that were not Lycanthrope, the knights were at a loss.
They could be seen raising the lanterns while swinging their swords around──
Furthermore, the Jabberwocky flying about above the sky kept releasing fire breath playfully. One of them amassed power into its chest and boiled the inside of its throat. Melida was taken aback after guessing its aim.
It was the different in one instance.
When Melida leaped away from the window and rolled on the floor, a blaze’s fired sound came. The outside of the window shined bright red, without time to be despair the wall was blown away. The attack shockwave came.
Melida covered her head to withstand with all her might.
As she did that, she heard a scream which was not her own.
「Kyaaaaaaaaaa!!」
“Ha”, as she raised her head, she could see from across the giant hole opened on the wall, human figure were crouching. Melida immediately jumped and dashed to them.
「Nein!」
She shook the girl’s shoulders and put her hands on her cheek to raised her face up.
The oldest refugee girl distorted her face in fright.
「What are you doing here!」
「My, my rifle……」
Although Nein was shaking, she clasped tightly the rifle with her left and right hands.
Taking the chance the knights were out, she must have returned to retrieved this confiscated thing.
「I have to protect, every, everyone……!」
Melida forcefully pulled up the paralyzed Nein.
「Where are the others? Let run together with us!」
And then they started running.
At the end of the road corner, a knight was tumbling, Melida group stopped their feet with a jump.
A knight was desperately swinging his sword around, but what was he being afraid of?
The true form of that fear next showed its figure from the corner.
The《Nameless one》──
The body made of black fog covered in rag clothes, the embodiment of death. No matter how much the knight swung his sword, the《nameless ones》didn’t mind one bit about its hollow body being gouged.
Melida group became even afraid to breathe, they stumbled two, three steps back.
The《Nameless ones》certainly didn’t try to inflict any injury. It was only staring at its prey’s face. At a close distance. As if trying to discovery something in his eyes, it brought its face closer and closer.
In a blink the knight twitched his face.
It seemed he himself had found something mustn’t be seen on its hollow face.
「Hi, hi! Hi, hii……!!」
The knight once again swung up the sword.
He directly gripped the blade, while letting blood dripped from his palm ──
He pointed it at his own throat.
「Hieaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa──────────……!!」
Melida hugged Nein to her chest right before it. She tightly protected the girl’s face with her hands.
A gushed of spilt blood appeared.
Apart from that scene, she must have been able to hear the repulsive sound of death alone. Nein clung to her. Melida put much more strength into her embrace.
Was it because its prey didn’t move anymore, the《nameless ones》for awhile only stared at the knight’s corpse, then it turned its head.
Toward the direction of Melida, the two ──
While Melida was stumbling backward she grasped Nein’s hand, they ran to the opposite way in the hall.
On their way, a giant body ran to them.
「You, what are you doing there?」
「Schneisen-oba-sama!」
Melida group again had no choice but to stood still.
Captain Schneisen looked around the place briefly. The shot wall, the girl who should have been captured, the corpse of his subordinate leaning at the corner of the wall and the figure loitering in vacant.
He pushed Melida group aside to ran to them.
「How dare you do that to my subordinate!」
The《nameless ones》charged at Schneisen with movement like a soft body.
Even though he said that, it wasn’t like it raised their weapons. In the blink of an eye it closed on Schneisen and stared into his face just like the knight before.
Schneisen hardened his fist and stood still.
Then he shook his giant body.
「Kaa────!!」
The《nameless ones》itself shuddered and bent backward.
Taking that chance Schneisen swung up his curved blade and deeply mowed the《nameless ones》’s torso. The rag flew into thousand pieces, the black miasmic was blown away by the sword’s wave and scattered.
The enemy disappeared without leaving a trace.
In front of Melida group who was looking in dumbfounded, Schneisen leaned his body from the punctured hole on the wall.
「You bastards, listen carefully!」
Just like using a megaphone, the throaty feminine speech echoed across the fort.
「Don’t assume the enemy is living thing! Destroy the rags on their bodies!! Then they lose their real body and you rend them powerless!」
The knights’ war cry answered him. The sound of sword clashing became more heated.
However, it seemed Schneisen’s order also attracted the enemy.
One of the Jabberwocky charged at him. Right after captain Schneisen jumped aside, the smooth monster rammed its head. The hole on the wall was furthermore smashed open.
The monster stepped on the debris and rang its throat, it spread its left and right wing intimidating.
Its aim is captain Schneisen! While Melida covered Neind she shouted.
「Please be careful oba-sama! That thing is the real Jabberwocky!」
「I’ll judge that myself!」
Captain Schneisen pushed out the pistol with his left hand.
From its big caliber a giant bullet shot out. A unimaginable loud noise and flash appeared.
It shot through the Jabberwocky’s neck ──
As though it looked like it, the beast only lightly bent its head and withstood it. As if throwing a small rock on the water surface, the bullet merely spread a small ripple on the enemy’s skin.
The mouth lined up with fangs looked more like it was laughing.
Captain Schneisen bent his lips.
「Apparently the legend is true!」
“In that case”, he threw away the pistol on his left hand and the curve blade on his right.
When Melida looked at him wondering what he was doing, Schneisen spread out his left and right arms like a beast and leaped at the Jabberwocky with his whole body.
「Uoooooooo!!」
As he grappled the monster’s long neck with his arms, he somehow pulled it down in that way with brute force.
Melida’s spine became frozen. He didn’t use mana………..!
The Jabberwocky was writhing on the floor. Schneisen put his whole body weight on to not let it escape.
「If you can’t use mana then let battle it out with your own body! How’s this, how’s this, hoow this!!」
His arms bulged as if bursting with muscle, he strangled the beast’s neck to the limit. From the Jabberwocky’s throat, let out more and more dulled screams.
Its giant body twitched and then slightly relaxed.
Estimating that, Schneisen jumped up. He gripped the monster’s tail and hurled away the enemy body that was many folds heavier than his. It crashed into the wall. Without time to rest, it was thrown to the floor. Together with heavy shock, fragments of rock salt burst open.
As the finishing blow, Schneisen lifted up the enemy.
「U……ooooooooooooooooo!!」
He threw it out from the hole on the wall. The Jabberwocky didn’t have strength to spread its wings and crashed down, it slammed to the wide space in front of the castle gate. It crushed the《nameless ones》gathering there.
Melida and Nein couldn’t help but be in mute amazement.
Schneisen glared at the battlefield from the hole on the wall and raise a roar.
「Don’t underestimate the Burning Calvary Regimeeent (Guild Phoenix)!!」
Sounds of flapping wings ──
Another different Jabberwocky flew down to in front of Schneisen.
But it didn’t come to fight.
It was carrying a human figure straddling on its back.
「Is that whatever its name is guild also a savage tribe?」
While on mount, Theodoa kicked Schneisen’s chest. 「Muo!?」Schneisen was made to move away from the hole’s surface.
And then Theodoa lightly landed on the empty space with nonchalant face.
Melida’s whole body tensed up, she moved Nein even further back with one of her hand.
It seemed that Theodoa certainly had noticed them.
「Yaa, lady?」
「……!」
Melida urged Neind and drew back little at a time.
As expected the enemy had something to do with them.
However, from the opposite side of the hall a throaty voice came. Schneisen bent his lips.
「A vampire……? You’re the one who set those eerie ghosts at us!」
「Indeed」
Theodoa looked over his shoulder with slight movement seemingly not having much interest.
Unbefitting of a battlefield, his behavior was like an imperial noble.
「Your campfires are very useful. Let me give you a praise」
「Fun!」
Schneisen full heartedly snorted out and picked up the curve blade and the pistol on the floor.
His physique was far more exceed to the opponent. He spread his arms and legs across the entire width of the hall.
「I am Scotch Schneisen, captain of the Burning Calvary Regiment (Guild Phoenix). If I can’t win, then who will!!」
This time, it was not just arm muscle ──
His whole body looked like it swollen up a size. That optical illusion was his mana. His clasping fists creaked. Cracks ran across the floor where he stood.
Pressure like that of a volcano eruption was released. Melida shivered.
The pressure alone was even a match for Felgus and Almedia……!
Theodoa once again turned his whole body at the guy「Hou」.
Schneisen simply raised up the curve blade.
「Nuei!!」
Theodoa took on that attack. Surprisingly with only one hand.
From his upper arm to his fingertips, the anima’s cold air wrapped up. Although Schneisen’s blade certainly had cut into the skin, it was stopped there.
However, Schneisen didn’t back down.
Still in that way, he pushed the blade down with as much strength as possible.
「Nunununununu……!!」
With his feet, the floor was furthermore crushed deeper.
Theodoa’s thin body didn’t even twitch.
However, the round blade which was like a saw accomplished a small result.
Blood was dripping on the floor.
From Theodoa’s sleeve, stain soaked, dripping, fresh blood fell down.
He nodded as if having satisfied and swept his arm casually. As the blade was repelled Schneisen stumbled.
「I see」
Theodoa didn’t act like he was in pain, he looked down at his own right arm that was bleeding.
「In this way even human can increase their strength」
「Don’t look down on meeee!!」
「Surely I have」
Theodoa stroke the wound on his right hand with his left.
With only that, in the time to say a, the wound closed. Schneisen lowered his chin.
Theodoa sneered at the guy.
「And that’s all your strength?」
「……Fun nuaaaaaaaa!!」
Schneisen swung the sword using his whole body. Theodoa’s arm moved like smoke.
As the sword and arm clashed, the shockwave spread into a circle and created a gust. The wall was torn by the aftershock. Schneisen place his whole body physical strength on the blade and furthermore compress mana to the limit into one attack, then released it. Theodoa drove it away. Anima above the equal amount gathered at his right arm.
Although the clashing sound was serious, Theodoa’s movement could be said to be elegant.
The vampire responded to Schneisen who jumped his whole body with one hand──
Before long, Theodoa honestly even stopped the exchange. He didn’t even look at the enemy, but only accurately swung his right arm. The blade was flicked together. He was even outpushed by the back of the hand, Schneisen greatly swung his upper body. To not being pushed down, he held his ground and once again held the sword above his head.
He struck.
That attack was stopped by Theodoa’s upper arm ──
It was easily flipped up. This time Schneisen’s posture broke and let out a gap.
Theodoa lightly stepped into his chest.
「Please come back a hundred year later」
He added anima on his palm, he pushed.
A terrific shooting sound appeared.
Schneisen chest area bent, right after his expression seemed to distort because of anguish, he was blown away. His massive body easily flew backward and slammed into the wall.
No, he was buried in it.
He didn’t bounce back, just like that very deep cracks ran across the wall and stopped. Schneisen’s body didn’t even allow his body to drop on the floor, he powerlessly dropped his head.
Theodoa gently swung his wrist while turning his body.
「──Fumu, you’re tough. Not turning into smithereens right now」
And then, finally he turned back.
At that moment, Melida had already taken Nein and turned their bodies away.
She ran up the stair aimlessly.
Where should we run to now!? The complete getaway from Carna Navel was a miracle. The knight of the Calvary Regiment (Guild) was in partial destruction by the numerous amount of the《Nameless ones》. Furthermore, the mana rendered dangerous Jabberwocky were still eight remaining and taking position above the fort.
Captain Scotch Schneisen was even defeated………
Let’s exit the fort.
They finally went on the castle wall. When they looked down at the battle situation, as expected it was in a pitiful state. The wide space was filled with enemy and it seemed the knights closed the fort’s door and desperately tried to fight back.
Over there shouldn’t have any escape route. Should I unite with Elis group again?
Nein raised a scream.
The《nameless ones》had climbed up the castle wall. They had been surrounded!
「Lie down!」
While Melida sent Nein flying, she gathered mana on the pushed out right palm.
The golden mana shook as it formed a blade. Melida unconsciously bit her lip. Since he neglected the oath of the assault kill, her thought strength was not enough, the blade was thin.
However the enemy was closing right in front her eyes. With the produced phantom, show mowed down the 《nameless ones》. It caught the first one’s clothes tip and stabbed the second one while burning.
Making use of captain Schneisen’s advice, she didn’t look at the enemy as living things and aimed at their clothes. Certainly the inside was black fog. When having lost the thing supporting their human figure, they were as if puzzling about their existences, disappeared to sky by themselves.
Next, she cut down the third and the fourth. However, their number was endless.
There was a scream again.
Nein was targeted by the《nameless ones》! Although Melida tried to run to her right away, on her way, the enemy obstructed, unwillingly she had to stop her feet like a stroke of sword.
The scene was like that of the knight sacrificed before.
The《nameless ones》didn’t move their hands, they only stared at Nein’s face.
And then it finished dyeing Nein’s heart completely black.
「O, otou-san……okaa-san……!!」
She opened her eyes wide and started to over breathing.
She must have found something inside the《nameless ones》black fog.
There was a rifle in her hand.
Both of her arms jumped, she pressed the muzzle at her own chest.
No matter where she looked her pupils had already lost. While trembling slightly she clawed to the trigger.
「Me too, will ……over there……────」
Her finger pulp closely place on the trigger.
Just before that Melida made it in time. She kicked away the rifle from her hand as she dashed over, she cut down the 《nameless ones》standing there.
The rag clothes coiled around the blade, she annoyingly swung it up.
A flame burst out──
From the hem of the rag, fire sparks scattered, just like a storm of falling cherry blossom Melida’s mana filled the surrounding.
Light returned to Nein’s eyes.
Melida turned back, she strongly pulled the girl’s collar close.
「Get a grip!!」
「……」
「You clear? You won’t be happy by dying. Dying is only ending it there. If you want to be delight──if you want to be happy──」
She let go of her collar, instead she clasped her hands.
Strongly. Just like when she had the same thing done to her, strongly.
「You have no choice but to survive! Live!!」
She removed her hands and raised her body, once again she turned back.
The 《nameless ones》were still surrounding the two.
However, was it scariness? Melia realized that it was the enemy itself. She held her left and right palm toward the ground, this time she clearly declared.
「《Phantom Sword Bent Blade – Two Layer》──」
Fierce flame coiled at the bilateral symmetry, it became two swords that fit into her palms.
The 《nameless ones》exposed their wariness and sidled up to them. Melida sharply stepped out, while she swung the blades on her left and right hands she walked as if dancing. It was quick as the wind. The torn rags helically disappeared and burning fire sparks scattered.
With three steps she blown away three, having assured a big enough space she dropped her waist.
The enemy was dived into the left and right part ──
「《Phantom Sword Four Souls……」
Flame exploded.
At the same time she swung out the two blades.
「《Snow Moon Wind Fang》!!」
Mana swords split and became microscopic blade as they flew out. The wind swords expanded instantly, they mowed the enemy around like a fierce storm. Melida slashed back the phantom blade.
She gripped the not existed scabbard with her left hand and lowered the imagination blade on her right.
“Clank”, it was the cold sound of sword sheathing.
The enemy figures were blown everywhere and dispersed from the castle wall. Having their rags torn apart, they lost their form mid fall and scattered to the air.
Melida let out rough breaths “Haa”.
There was no time to rest ──
Right after sound of flapping wings came. When she looked up, a Jabberwocky descended from the sky above.
The decision to avoid was only a moment too late.
The Jabberwocky captured Melida with its legs just like that. It slammed her to the parapet「Kaha!」she choked. Her hold body was pressed by a vise.
Mana couldn’t affect this thing…….!
Even though saying that, Melida had no possibility of pushing away that giant body with all her strength. As if anticipating that, someone walked out from the fortress inner room.
It was none other than Theodoa.
He had no feeling of being impatient at all.
「You are Melida Angel, right?」
「……!」
「My king had declared that you alone must not live. Just humbly accept it」
Although it was hard for Melida to just breathe, she didn’t let it out and glared at him.
「Unfortunately I don’t know anything about that Vampire’s king-sama」
「Although you don’t know my king──」
As if Theodoa predicted it, he moved his expression with the minimum.
「My king knows about you」
「Just who……is that……」
「I wasn’t told to bring you back alive. I only need to ascertain that you are dead」
As if that was the signal, the Jabberwocky increased the strength in its grip. Unbearably Melida distorted her beautiful face in anguish. Her left and right arm bones were letting out screams.
A gunshot sound came──
Comparing to the tragic scene around, a very small sound of firing resounded. Melida noticed it. Theodoa too turned his face as if noticing that existence for the first time.
Nein was posing that rifle.
She pushed out the muzzle while gritting her teeth, she pulled the trigger once again.
The next gun shot bounced off the Jabberwocky’s temporal region.
Of course, the beast didn’t care one bit. Theodoa laughed mockingly.
「You know, lady. Those specks like that can’t save anybody」
As if trying to coat that voice, Nein pulled the trigger the third and fourth time.
Her teeth chattered, tears were flowing from both her eyes.
「Let go……let go……!!」
The fifth shot, the sixth shot, with no responses they bounced off the beast’s skin.
As the next meaningless seven and eight shot were fired, Theodoa cruel laughed.
It seemed he had guessed the remaining bullet.
「When you shot that final bullet, I’ll kill you first」
「……!!」
「I’ll let you choose how to die. Joining the domination of fear of the《nameless ones》? Being eaten alive by the Jabberwocky? Or I myself gouge out your heart……think carefully until you move that index finger」
Nein closed her stiffen eyes shut.
The muzzle was trembling repeatedly.
Her index was cramped, even so she pressed with all her might ──
Theodoa curved his lips up as if being split.
A gunshot sound came.
The Jabberwocky head was blown up. Theodoa stood ready as if being pulled.
「What!?」
That was without any doubt. Everything above the Jabberwocky’s neck was smashed into small pieces, it fell sideway like that. Melida was released. However she didn’t understand what had suddenly happened.
Nein was also dumbfounded while still readied the rifle.
Smoke was hovering from the muzzle. She had certainly fired. However for that Jabberwocky, not to mention that old rifle, attack with mana shouldn’t be able to completely pass through it.
Having the power to oppose them ──
Melida suddenly raised her body and leaned from the parapet.
The fortress assaulted by the《nameless ones》……..
And at the opposite of it. On the bare rock far away, light could be seen.
It was man-made light.
The caravan headlight.
On its roof, Melida certainly saw the figure of the sniper taking careful aim over here.
She had said before.
『The power I’m using is different from the power of the Calvary Regiment (Guild)’s knights, it’s the exact opposite』
『It’s the cursed night power that the damned Lycanthrope use ……』
The second shot came ──
The moment he could see the muzzle flash, Theodoa shouted「Tch!」and swung up his arm. Accurately the shot aimed at his middle forehead were repelled by the back of his hand.
The thing that annoyed him didn’t end with just that.
Light increased.
Near the first headlight, furthermore two, three, four and five appeared. Total six caravans advanced. Melida’s face glittered with feeling of almost wanting to cry.
「Aah……!」
On the roof of one of them, she found someone.
The most beloved figure of her home tutor!
He said.
「Please look」
Having fully prepared on top of the roof, he gripped the black sword.
「Ojou-sama is there all by herself」
「Then shall we go save her」
The other caravans were also prepared for war. On each of those roofs were the figures of soldier.
Serge smiled.
「Since Salacha is also being sad all these time」
Aboard the shame vehicle there was the figure of Kushana too. She raised the spear on her hand.
Toward the machine soldiers of the Black Sky Machine Regiment (Guild Ordyne) riding on the night caravan.
「Everybody──counter attack!!」
A battle cry echoed. At the same time the caravan spit out steam from its back part.
The tires fiercely rotated and ran over the rock surface. They didn’t even bounce one bit. On the driver seat of vehicle at the head, manager Clover was vigorously turning the lever.
「Hou, hou, ho────u! It’s time to show the Black Sky Regiment (Guild Ordyne)’s powE────R!」
The machine soldiers riding the vehicle were grasping the cannon which reminded people of a bazooka.
That weapon was connected to a tube and was integrated to a giant tank.
The place to use it was………
The vehicle at the head vigorously arrived at the fortress, it charged into the opened gate with that force. While he mowed down the ghosts clamoring at the wide space with the vehicle body, he hit the brake and glided the back wheels.
Without a moment’s delay, the machine knights pushed out muzzles from the window and above the roof.
The tank roared and the liquid flowing back through the tube was dumped out from the muzzle──
It ignited.
Just like a flamethrower the sweeping fire which came out all at once dyed the wide space bright red. The 《nameless ones》were engulfed without time to run, together with their rag being burnt they evaporated and disappeared. The following caravans didn’t wait for the brake and spouted out fire. While they sprinted into the wide space they mowed down the ghosts and indiscriminately spread out the fire to dye the enemy line.
Above the sky, the seven Jabberwockys raised angry roars.
On one of the vehicle’s roof, Freesia stuck out the rifle and let out a warning shot.
From her left and right sides, one group of man and woman walked out.
They were Serge and Kushana. Kushana shivered her thick lips.
「Our mission is to bring down those things」
「The knights who drive on dragon……shall we show them the duty of the dragon」
Serge responded with a smile then flew out.
The roof of the caravan was strongly kicked flying, two figures instantly jumped up to the sky. They easily ascended to the altitude of the Jabberwockys, they spread out mana wings on both of their legs.
Kushana brandished the spear on her right hand and put her left on the handle. Her right eyes at the same time lightened up ominously.
「Eat this curse that gnawed away at the dragon!!」
Pitch blade shadow spouted up from her whole body.
It was the evil curse of Loups Garous taken roots at their own souls. Abandoning her upper half body to the power of the night, Kushana gathered the ominous power at the spear tip. The shadow coiled around the winding handle.
The spear was released.
The thrown spear pierced one of the Jabberwocky’s head and vertically went through it. As its shook violentlt and its body posture broken, Kushana swooped down upon its back. She simply twisted her right hand fingers.
The shadow was drawn back like a whip and her spear flew up while rotating.
Kushana caught the handle of the spear which came back in astonishing speed without looking.
On her pushed out left palm, darkness glittered while condensing.
Kushana sneered.
「Mana is powerless against you right?」
She kicked the Jabberwocky’s back and jumped higher. In return the stepped on beast finally lost its strength and crashed down. It crashed into the castle wall, making debris fly up.
Suffering that impact from a close distance, Theodoa immediately covered his face.
「Impossible」
In front of him who muttered that, another human figure was being outstanding.
It was the one-handed Serge. All at once he was surrounded by three Jabberwockys.
While he spread out his right arm and gathering wind, he carefully stared fix at the enemies.
「So you’re thinking of aiming for me first huh? How clever」
His lips curved up.
「But that’s foolish」
He too released shadow.
Its density increased at his left shoulder. Then, the whirling shadow recreated the left arm which should have been lost. Furthermore on that palm, the same spear imitated spear was being gripped.
On her real right hand was his favorite spear.
It was double spear──
「Now die in extreme anguish!!」
While he howled loudly, Serge thrust out the spear on his right hand. The front Jabberwocky tried to avoid the shockwave.
Before it avoided the shadow on his left hand went around. It pierced the right wing as if sucking it in.
The Jabberwocky roared in a strange voice.
While tearing the monster’s wing, it took a sharp turn to the left. Over there Serge was aiming with his right hand. The spear tip cut into the beast’s neck. The Jabberwocky recklessly struggled and escaped from the blade. Right then Serge’s shadow spear split into nine and fiercely swooped down like rain.
Without any time to run it was stabbed repeatedly.
Fresh blood spurted out from the monster’s whole body, then a sever attack hit its smooth face.
Serge kicked the enemy while drawing out the right hand spear.
「《This one》is a little wild」
The shadow left arm itself separated. It greatly spread out like wings and entangled the remaining frightened Jabberwocky.
When the monsters were struggling, one more person jumped up from the ground.
It was Kufa.
「Although as expected I’m late for an aerial combat──」
He stepped on one beast and unsheathed the black blade.
「Leave this to me too」
He smoothly stabbed the blade tip on the enemy’s neck.
What disgusting sharpness………! The Jabberwocky died smoothly. Furthermore Kufa swung out the sword with only his physical strength and cut off the Jabberwocky’s head highly.
If mana doesn’t affect them, just don’t use it.
Serge stared at Kufa deeply moved.
「Who would have thought a day where we stand shoulder to shoulder like this came again」
「……Pointing sword at each other would be much more wholesome right」
Kufa smiled bluntly then flew. Serge too smiled cynically, he jumped as if crossing. Their after images mixed into a cross.
Without advance warning, one Jabberwocky’s head was blown off.
Freesia on the ground made precise shot and reciprocated the bolt handle. Shell cases popped out. Each time the dry sound came from the land, the enemy continuously crashed down from the sky.
Soon after dominating the sky was not the Jabberwocky but the knights hunting them.
Theodoa turned his head at that scene.
「Unbelievable」
While doing so, the legendary Jabberwocky decreased again, and then again to the last one. When it seemed below his eyes suddenly lightened up, the《nameless ones》which should have filled the fortress were almost all incinerated. The little remnants were also engulfed in fire.
Although taking position at the fortress, he was already the last one standing.
「Something like this……!」
Behind him, Melida was looking for the timing to attack.
Suddenly she was made to notice.
Since when, the《nameless ones》once again crawled up the castle wall. However, it seemed their interest was not Melida nor Nein. Theodoa still didn’t notice it.
Melida lightly half-rose to her feet, soundlessly she invocated the assault skill.
Mana converged on her right palm and shaped a blade.
Aiming at Theodoa, she stepped out like an arrow.
He sensed that just ahead of it and sidestepped his body from the thrust blade.
The blade tip faintly gazed his white cheek.
However that was enough ──
Melida floated a bright smile at Theodoa who turned back in an astonished state.
「Did you think about dying?」
「What you mean?」
Theodoa sneered whole heartedly.
「What are you saying? This vampire that reigns the night world──」
Even so Melida was only staring at him, he immediately confessed.
「……Right. My spine is frozen」
Inside his pupils, some kind of emotion flickered.
「If you die, can’t you escape……────」
At that moment, it was not Melida who responded.
It was the《nameless ones》which had surrounded him since who knows when. As if receiving the signal, they sidled up to Theodoa. He finally noticed his error.
「No, right now……!」
The《nameless ones》didn’t lend an ear. They clung to Theodoa as if thirsting for water. He desperately tried to shake them off. However the enemy didn’t have real body.
He was engulfed in a black fog in a blink. Theodoa ran away.
While dragging the《nameless ones》rags he ran without knowing where.
He must have not known where he himself was going.
He was simply running.
From the fear of death ──
「Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!! I won’t yield in anyways! I am not afraid of death or the likes!」
He climbed over the castle wall and tumbled down to the roof.
While he glided his feet many time he ran away crawling on all fours.
He clung to the dead end tower, he cracked his nail while crawling up……..
He threw himself to the other side.
Over there was a cliff ──
The《nameless ones》followed suit.
Finally, a scream that didn’t seem like it belonged to this land echoed, he was engulfed into the darkness and disappeared.
Melida stared at his end from the parapet without taking a breath.
The sword clash had already ended.
The six caravans had gained control of the wide space in front of the castle gate, the enemy figure was no more. The Jabberwocky received fatal wounds and scattered here and there inside the fortress.
The knights shut themselves inside the fortress timidly poked their faces out of the door.
The door which was opened a little at a time was swung opened at once.
The ones who flew to the side of the surprised knights were the three knight duke daughters.
While crying and spreading her left and right hand was Salacha.
「Nii-san」
Serge this time responded with a whole face smile and hugged his sister close with his lone arm.
Mule and Elise too were happy to meet Kushana and Freesia again.
「Onee-samas, thanks god you’re safe……!」
Kushana smiled looking proud.
「You too did a good job holding on. As expected of my sisters」
While Elise slightly let her emotion out on her face, she swung Freesia’s hand up and down.
「Fiz-onee-sama……」
Freesia was smiling brightly.
「As everyone heard the caravan’s explosion sound, they went looking for me」
Furthermore, Melida noticed another person looking up at the castle wall.
………..It was Kufa.
Melida could immediately understand the meaning of his eyes signal. She let go of her hand from the railing.
At the same time when she did that, a large build human figure fell out from inside the fortress.
It was captain Scotch Schneisen. Dried blood was sticking to his head.
「Just where, is he ……!?」
He sharp sighted stared at Melida. He thrust out his big finger.
「Oi, you! You definitely planning on running away!」
「Yes, just as you said, oba-sama. We’ll be leaving」
「What did you sayyy……!?」
Melida deliberately put on a elegant air and showed him a graceful smile.
「Please take care of the kids, yes? Surely you’re being the Calvary Regiment (Guild)’s Captain would never break the rule and chase after us, right?」
「Gunununununu……」
「Because the knight duke houses always firmly keep a watchful eye!」
After she put her index finger on her eye, she lightly turned her body.
Just before it, a palm pulled her sleeve.
It was Nein.
Unusually her gaze was shaking.
「Will, will you also go away……?」
Melida bent her knees and matched her gaze, she clasped the girl’s palm.
「What is it? There is nothing to be afraid of anymore. Oba-sama group will protect you and bring you back to Flandre. And then a new life is waiting for you」
「But」
Nein shook her head and hanged it.
She spoke out her stagnated heart.
「I’m afraid. We, people running away from the night world won’t be accepted in Flandre! I might not be able to protect the children……!」
Her clasping hand had force put in so much it hurt.
Melida put her hand on the girl’s shoulder and gently stroke it.
「……I’m also afraid. Before, I was very afraid. I was called《Talentless Gifted Girl》. My otou-sama and okaa-sama also weren’t there. But right now, I’m not that afraid anymore」
「……Why is that?」
Nein accumulated tears in her eyes and looked up.
──For example if this were Melida’s home tutor, he would surely told the answer right here, wouldn’t he?
Melida imagined, she let out a chuckle and kept her lips relax.
「I’ll teach you when we meet again. Let’s see each other back at Flandre!」
This time Melida stood up. Gliding her fingers reluctant to part, she let go of the hand.
Another lively voice echoed.
「Noble onee-chan!」
When she looked, the remaining eight children also showed themselves on the castle wall. It seemed they really couldn’t just stare at this turmoil.
Melida directed a smile at them, “mun”. She made pose of clapping her biceps.
The children also made the same biceps and hit their upper arms.
Melida smiled from her heart and ran away. While receiving the cheers from behind she went down the stairs.
In the wide space, the Black Sky Machine Regiment (Guild Ordyne) operating six caravans were mustered.
Her three close friends, Serge and Kushana, then Freesia too were waiting for her.
And finally the young boy who took one step out to receive her.
Her yearned for beloved person ──
「Sensei!」
Melida without hesitation flew into his chest.
Kufa was like a phantom thief, he embraced the little ojou-sama tightly.
† † †
The fortress was still smoldering with fire even now. Following captain Schneisen, who still didn’t understand the casualty, they gave a backward glance at Calvary Regiment (Guild)’s knights readying to flee ──
The caravan roared out their klaxons and ran out from the fortress
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