Chapter 163: Everything without a trace (1/2)

“Ahahaha!!”

“Did you go crazy?” (Makoto)

“No way. Just that, there were two things that made me laugh, that’s all” (Sofia)

“Hah?” (Makoto)

I spontaneously make a voice of amazement.

Even when I dispelled the charm, it just made her not talk about the Empire hero anymore, but her personality didn’t change that much.

She is still emitting blood thirst, and yet, she suddenly began laughing.

‘Did she go crazy?’ is what I thought.

But right after, I could tell that the power of the laughing Sofia was showing a change.

I see.

At the very least, she has a basis for it huh. It is not like she went crazy.

“The first one is that, my so called companion died in a truly fast and easy way” (Sofia)

“Lancer died huh” (Makoto)

I haven’t extended my [Sakai] to where Shiki is, so I don’t know if what she is saying is true though.

Well, there’s no way Shiki would lose.

But to be able to do the killing blow as well. Shiki has gotten stronger than I thought.

“The other is that, the gamble was as expected, my win. I was amazed by how strong my own luck is” (Sofia)

“Gamble? With Lancer?” (Makoto)

She hasn’t done a gamble with me.

There’s already nothing I want to test with her.

If she intends to do something, it is fine to watch what she will do, but I should put a finish to it soon.

“Yeah. If I die before him, I would become a part of his collection. If he were to die first, he will give me the remaining life he has. That kind of gamble” (Sofia)

Remaining life.

Lancer has several lives.

“… And, you who has won the gamble and received that life, what is it you can do? That sword and that dragon power, you can already tell that they are completely not up to par, right?” (Makoto)

Having Lancer’s power dwell in her at this late in time, just what would she be able to do?

Even if her sword gets slightly stronger, even if the teleportation with the light swords gets slightly better, there’s absolutely no point.

“… Ah, it isn’t something that makes me laugh, but there’s another thing that I have noticed” (Sofia)

“Hm?” (Makoto)

The joy in her expression was gone, but Sofia continues talking.

I will wait for you, so you don’t need to buy time in this way.

I sighed.

“I did this quite a lot in the past, but you know, people that fight while looking down on their opponent… are really disgusting. I have reflected on this” (Sofia)

“I see” (Makoto)

So you say.

I don’t know if she is trying to provoke me here but, right now I am able to hold the reins of my heart to a certain extent.

The conclusion of this battle as well, and its result, will most likely be reached in a quite plain manner.

This cold emotions that even felt extreme, this battle thoughts of mine, there’s no problem with it.

I think that this is simply a mental state I reach when I am fighting.

I can move like a soldier as if flipping a switch, that’s all.

This thing that is inside of me is probably a habit of mine.

It isn’t something special or anything like that.

I have experienced fights of life and death in practically a daily basis, so I probably just adapted to it.

It is not that there’s another person inside of me.

I am slightly able to accept this.

No matter what Sofia says, just like how my magic power body doesn’t let attacks reach me, I am able to take everything by surface and ward it off.

“And, those kind of people let down their guards. That’s why I was able to make it in time. Let me show it to you then; the trump card that overwhelmed two superior dragons and killed them” (Sofia)

“The strong will control the battlefield and will act as they please. I actually think that this is providence though. Is it negligence?” (Makoto)

“Even now, you are not even trying to stop me. If that’s not negligence and conceit, what would it be?” (Sofia)

“… Leeway?” (Makoto)

There was no answer from Sofia.

In exchange, a nauseating richly colored area was spread on the floor and was expanding with her as the center.

Before long, it also reached my feet and it was even stretching up to the sky.

When I thought just how far it would expand, it didn’t cover the whole space of what was once the audience room, and its expansion stopped.

A space that is not kind to the eye.

Right after an impression I didn’t place much interest in, an ear-piercing sound as if nails were scraping glass resounded heavily in the place.

The richly colored area broke and scattered, and it returns to the scene of the audience room.

But, this is…

As if affirming my guess, from Sofia’s feet, no, from every part of the sky, swords began appearing one after the other.

Each one of them were swords with different design.

The similarity they shared was that they were swords and that it was clearly visible that they were quite the quality swords.

It is a line up of swords that seemed as if someone ransacked the smithy of an elder dwarf.

“Welcome to the cage of swords. This is the place where Lancer stores the swords he gathers. And, it is also an execution ground” (Sofia)

Sofia’s fearless smile.

“Impressive. You brought me to an isolated space” (Makoto)

“It was just shifting it slightly though. But the entertainment it provides is plenty, so don’t worry” (Sofia)

“No no, just forcefully bringing someone to another space, it is a first for me. No well, putting aside an exception, I have almost never experienced this. Even if it is small, it is quite impressive” (Makoto)

Sofia silently closes her eyes and breathes in largely.

Ignored huh.

But even Tomoe was unable to do it, so this is quite considerable. Seriously.

Was that ear-piercing sound the moment when the space got shifted?

What’s amazing is that from what I see, it is as if we were still in the same place.

This might be the first time today that I have felt admiration towards Sofia.

She didn’t attack me immediately, so I decided to use [Sakai] to understand the characteristics of this space.

“Increases the power of the one that deploys it. But what’s best at is… the cohabitation of swords and life?” (Makoto)

“That’s not on the level of a revelation. Did you do something?” (Sofia)

“Well a bit here. So all the swords here are the life of Sofia. That it produces infinitely depending on one’s worth, quite the unpleasant power there” (Makoto)

From the stocked swords here, I can feel the pulsation of life.

It is as if the swords and her are sharing lives.

Looking at her reaction, it seems I am not wrong.

“… A thousand and eighty. They are not infinite” (Sofia)

“Seems to be slightly fewer than that though. There must have been many used when Lancer was fighting Shiki” (Makoto)

It is a magnificent view as well. A splendid power there.

Thinking about the individual battle prowess of Sofia, fighting infinitely in this place, even superior dragons would not like it.

On top of that, in the first time I fought with her, she already had the Waterfall dragon. In other words, she first obtained the power of the dragon that was specialized in healing.

I feel sympathy towards Darkness Clad and Crimson Light.

“It doesn’t change the fact that we will continue this dance of swords until you die” (Sofia)

“But too bad. At the very end, you brought the worst power you could have brought out, Sofia” (Makoto)

Towards the Dragon Slayer that had taken two swords in hand, I announced this.

I probably did a heartfelt expression of pity there.

Sofia didn’t do any refutation, and in exchange, she stared at my left hand.

“Raidou, what is that?” (Sofia)

“Things like warrior or magician; they are wrong, totally wrong, Sofia. You see, I am…” (Makoto)

I turn my left hand towards her.

While still holding it.

My weapon that I took from a different space a few moments ago.

In this place, in this space that Sofia has created and reigns over, I am able to do this.

It feels as if I am putting Asora into practical use and I do feel bad about it.

“Aaaah!!!” (Sofia)

Must have been her instinct.

With wide opened eyes, Sofia roars.

In a speed that can be compared to that of a bullet, she cuts towards the magic power body.

Heh~, the strength is high.

Then…

I will change [Sakai] to enhancement.

The magic power body that was sharply torn up by Sofia was instantly regenerated to the point that it was practically not injured anymore.

After confirming this and nodding, I take a white arrow in my right hand similar to the bow I have.

And then, I fix the arrow to the string.

Sofia continued her attack from the sky. Her eyes not straying from my left hand in any moment.

“This is… Azusa. My weapon. The craftsmen that made this were adamant in having me place a name to it, you see. And so, I have given it the same name of an ancient bow. It is called Azusa Yumi” (Makoto)

I pour a massive amount of magic power to the bright white arrow in my right hand.

Steadily turning its color to pink, and then, turning into a deeper red.

It is an arrow made from the same material as my ring Draupnir.

This is what I thought when I obtained this magic power body.

If I can’t construct a spell by using a massive amount of magic power at once, I just have to accumulate it.

That it is fine to just use what’s accumulated.

Even if there’s a limit to how much can be accumulated, the power of this arrow that has turned completely red is a lot stronger than any magic I can use.

“Aaaahhh!!”

As if being manipulated by her will, the other swords aside from the ones in both her hands, began to attack me as well.

Slash, stab, swipe, rain incessantly.

Attacks that showed no mercy.

Within all that, Sofia was skilfully evading her own attacks while flying around, changing her position, and continuing her attacks.

She is even bringing out spells. She was literally utilizing everything she had.

Doesn’t matter.

A bow that is unusual in this world. I utilize a form of holding the bow that I am accustomed to and draw Azusa to its very limit.

If I have to kill you over a thousand times before this ends, I just need to do this all at once.

These swords and Sofia as well; I will vanish everything in this one attack.

“Raidooooou!!!” (Sofia)

I eliminate Sofia from my field of vision.

I close my eyes and turn silent.

Even if you get impatient now, it is already too late.

“O bow of Azusa, draw forth and bind the spirits wicked… Just kidding. I only have vague memories of it though” (Makoto)

“You, you are—-!!” (Sofia)

She herself secluded us in this small place.

There’s already no escape.

There’s no need look at Sofia who is trying to confuse me by flying everywhere.

Just by hitting something, the attack will reach this whole space after all.

I slowly open my eyes.

“I am an archer. Name is Misumi Makoto. It would be pitiful to shout out a fake name in your last moments right, Sofia?” (Makoto)

“I still haven’t… that guy… Root… I have not even met the harmony supreme dragon yet!!! Like hell I will die!!” (Sofia)

Even though I went out of my way to tell her my name.