「………..」
We faced each other, swords drawn, tension thick between us.
「………..!!」
I surged forward in a single explosive step, using Amilia’s shoulder as a pivot to slip past her.
「You think I’ll let you!?」
She spun instantly, swinging in a wide arc.
I flipped backward through the air to dodge, then twisted mid-spin, slashing down in a follow-up strike.
Clang!
Metal screamed against metal.
Amilia staggered back a step.
「Kuh!」
「Surround him! Surround him! Protect the Saintess!!」
The old noble kept shouting uselessly from behind.
Seriously, shut up already…
「……Tch!!」
I released a burst of raw magic power pressure.
The approaching soldiers froze in place.
Even the noble collapsed to his knees, legs giving out.
「What overwhelming pressure… Haaaaahhh!!」
Amilia poured power into her holy sword.
It blazed with blinding light.
She swung in a massive overhead arc, I parried, and in the same breath she spun, slicing clean through my left arm along with the robe sleeve.
(It huuurts!! 『Heal & Zero Eruption!』)
The wound sealed instantly.
The severed arm burst into flames on the ground, reduced to ash in seconds.
Cheers erupted from all around.
(Perfect. That’s the signal.)
「……!!」
I pressed the attack this time, unleashing a flurry of strikes.
「Kuh! So heavy!!」
「……」
「Kyaa!」
I found an opening, kicked her defending sword clean out of her hands.
「……」
「Hiiiiiiiiii!?」
I whirled around, locking eyes with the trembling noble.
「No, don’t!!」
「Gyafu!?」
One clean stroke.
His head rolled free.
Silence swallowed the battlefield.
「You bastard!!」
Amilia closed the gap in an instant, unleashing a storm of high-speed slashes.
「……!!」
I met every blow with equal ferocity.
(She’s even stronger than I expected…)
I felt a rush of pride at her growth, until finally my sword shattered under the strain.
「Now!! Haaaaahhh!!」
Her holy sword pierced straight through my chest.
I collapsed forward, right into her arms.
「……Don’t forget the magic tool.」
With a small whisper, Amilia kicked me away, exactly as scripted.
I ignited the oil hidden inside my robe and transferred out in the same instant.
「Ouch… ow… that actually hurt, and it was hot…」
I peeled off the charred, tattered inner layer and stored it in my Item Box.
After regenerating my arm and changing into fresh clothes, the magic tool chimed.
「Good. She used it properly. 『Transfer』」
I appeared beside Amilia.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
「Amilia! What happened!?」
I transferred straight into the center of the cheering crowd.
There she was, face streaked with tears, eyes red and swollen.
「Uwaaaaaaaaaaaah!! Yuukiiiiiiiiiiii!!」
She threw herself into my arms.
I held her gently while glancing around.
The old noble’s body and those of the guards lay neatly lined up.
「I get the situation. Amilia, let’s do it.」
「…sniff… okay…」
I stopped the soldiers who were about to move the bodies and began restoration.
「You remember the chant, right?」
「Yes… I remember it perfectly.」
「「『O souls scattered in battle, filled with regret, by the miracle of the gods, return to this world! ——Resurrection』」」
Silence fell over the field.
Orbs of light drifted down, sinking into the bodies.
One by one, they opened their eyes.
「W-What…? I…」
「We used a one-time-only divine miracle.」
「A… divine miracle?」
「Yes. A resurrection spell that can only be cast when the Holy Knight and Saintess stand together. The second time will never work again.」
「Nnah!?」
「And this second life… will be taken back by the gods if you do not live righteously.」
「S-Such a thing…」
「In short, if you don’t reform your arrogance, look down on the common people, or fail to show proper respect to the Saintess, God’s chosen daughter… you will be punished.」
「Disrespecting the Saintess-sama!?」
「Calling her a mere commoner… looking down on her… right?」
I smiled sweetly as I leaned in.
Sweat poured down the noble’s face.
「I’ll let it slide this once. I hope you change your heart. But there won’t be a second chance.」
He nodded frantically, over and over.
「Also… neither I nor the Saintess can be killed by assassination or poison.
Don’t even think about trying anything stupid.」
As I confirmed his nod and stepped back, I knelt before Amilia and bowed my head deeply.
「We are deeply grateful to you, Saintess-sama, for saving me and my guards through the miracle of the gods!」
「「「「「Thank you very much!!」」」」」
「N-No, please… it was all thanks to Yuuki. He always covers for everything I lack, so I’m constantly being helped by him.」
Amilia smiled softly.
All eyes around us turned toward me.
「So, Amilia… did we win?」
「Yes! With this sword you made for me, I cut him down perfectly.」
「You were incredible, Saintess-sama!」
「You fought that Demon King head-on, matching him blow for blow!」
Indeed, her strikes today were faster and sharper than any of our practice sessions.
「Aww… I’m sorry I missed it.」
(Well… I already know how it went.)
「But seriously, what ‘was’ that thing?」
「It burned up completely…」
All that remained was a pile of charred robe ashes.
「Fuu…」
Amilia swayed, suddenly drained.
I quickly caught her before she could fall.
「You okay?」
「I’m… really exhausted…」
「Alright then… up we go.」
「Hyau!? Yuuki!?」
I scooped her into my arms.
Cheers erupted from every direction.
「We’ll head back now to report and rest. Tomorrow both Amilia and I will return, so please, no reckless assaults until then. Anyone injured, come find us later. We’ll heal you.」
I fixed my gaze on the old noble.
He sprang to his feet instantly.
「Y-Yes! Everyone, retreat! All troops, support each other and fall back!!」
He barked the order in a panic.
I wondered how many of the soldiers lost in his reckless siege could still be saved…
Thinking that, I guided the horse and rode back toward our camp.
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