Chapter 132.2 : Fierce Combat
Charles shouted at him with a flustered voice. He was still groveling on the ground after falling from his griffon.
Alfred heaved a sigh and turned his griffon to chase after Christina-tachi. His flying speed was faster than them and so easily caught up to them.
「AS IF I’LL LET YOU!《Enchant Physical Ability》」
Vanessa also suddenly increased he speed as she unsheathed her long sword and leapt towards Alfred. And thus she slashed her sword at Alfred who was flying at a low altitude.
But, Alfred also unsheathed the long sword that was placed on his saddle and thwarted Vanessa’s attack.
When their sword clashed, Vanessa staggered back.
Though Vanessa grimaced at the overwhelming difference in strength, she landed safely on the ground. And then, she sent her warning to Christina-tachi.
「BEHIND!」
「EH? 」
Celia who was running at the back of the formation reacted to Vanessa’s voice and glanced behind. Then, Alfred who had noticed that something was coming at from a short distance away in front of him was startled.
「《Wind Cutter》」
Celia stretched her arm out as she chanted the aria. Countless small wind blades came out from the magic square that appeared in front of her palm.
「《Photon Bullet》」
Slightly slower than her was Christina who had also seen Alphonse and decided to add another attack.
Though those two spells had low killing power, their invocation speed was fast and could be fired in rapid succession. He made his griffon fly higher in seeing the incoming attacks that were enough to endanger his life.
Alfred controlled his griffon and did a barrel roll to dodge the incoming magic. After flying to a safe height, he jumped from his griffon and landed on the ground.
After their rider was gone, the griffons flew back towards Charles-tachi who were left behind.
On the other hand, Vanessa fixed her stance and then slashed her sword at Alfred just as he landed on the ground.
「PLEASE RUN WHILE I STALL HIM!」
Vanessa screamed as she attacked Alfred. Christina-tachi reluctantly broke into a run.
Alfred calmly stopped Vanessa’s attacks with his sword . And then stepping back lightly after their swords had been locked together for a few seconds.
This crumbled Vanessa’s balance.
「Your stance is too rigid.」
Alfred calmly thrust his sword aiming at the gap born due to her crumbling balance.
Vanessa calmly reacted to that strike as she retreated.
But, her attire was caught by his sword. It was supposed to be a thick robe and yet Alfred’s sword easily tore it like a piece of paper.
Alfred was startled as her face came into view.
「You……………… What happened to your hair? Did you dye it? Nay…………… Oh, whatever. I’ll have to kill you if you keep resisting, Vanessa.」
Though Alfred showed a worried look on his face, it was instantly replaced with an indifferent expression.
Vanessa gritting her teeth shouted――,
「WHY, WHY ARE YOU HERE! ? Sword of the king! 」
She slashed her sword while shouting at him.
「………… Because this is a direct order of his majesty.」
Alfred repliedas he parried her strike.s
「THERE’S NO WAY IT’S HIS ORDER! NO, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IT’S HIS MAJESTY’S TRUE INTENTION! ? OLDER BROTHER! 」
「I have no intention of chatting with you.」
After blatantly telling her that, Alfred flicked off Vanessa’s sword which had entwined with his.
「KUH!」
「This is the end.」
Alfred saying so thrust his sword towards Vanessa’s neck. By then, Charles-tachi already caught up to him.
「Well done, Alfred! Leave that rebel to this guy and chase after the princess. Refrain from killing the others.」
After ordering one of the knights who had come with him to bind Vanessa, Charles ordered Alfred to chase after Christina-tachi.
Though Vanessa put up some resistant, she was eventually pinned down by several men.
Alfred heaved a sigh and ran towards the national border to chase after Christina-tachi. His speed was twice that of Christina-tachi who had strengthened their physical ability with magic.
Following after him was Charles who took a few knights with him while leaving behind one knight to watch over Vanessa.
◇ ◇ ◇
「I-IT CAME! B-BEHIND US!」
Kouta was the one who shouted. He was the first one to notice Alfred as he had looked back to confirm the situation in the middle of their sprint. Alfred was chasing after them with a breakneck speed.
Celia confirmed that and,
「《Lightning Rain》」
She chanted the aria of a spell.
A while later, a gigantic magic formation appeared high above Celia which then released numerous lightning bolts toward Alfred.
The lightning bolts exploded upon contact with the ground creating a huge cloud of dust.
「Leave him to me. You guys keep going.」
Celia said so with a resolute face.
「L-Let me to help you too!」
Kouta hurriedly offered his help. But, Celia blatantly refused his offer.
「You can’t you know. Since Vanessa-san’s primary duty wasn’t fulfilled, you’ll only become a hindrance even if you stay with me. Please leave this place to me.」
「But! 」
「It’s fine! 」
Despite chatting with Kouta, Celia was continuously controlling her magical power and was sending wave after wave of lightning bolts from the magic formation in the sky without even taking a break.
「Your highness, are you really okay with things turning this way! ? What will happen to Vanessa-san if we leave her as it is? 」
Kouta is asked Christina with a sour face.
Christina could only bite her lips. And then, her feet slowly moved. And brought herself to Celia’s side.
Celia stared at Christina with a dumbfounded gaze.
「Our opponent is Alfred. There’s no guarantee that we can escape from him. In that case, let’s fight him in this place and find another way to survive.」
Christina resolutely said so.
「Your highness…….. I Understand.」
After a moment of hesitation, Celia resolved herself.
「In that case, let me in too.」
Kouta said so in high spirits.
「…………… Well, let me in too then. Let’s do our best. It’s not like I can leave Kouta alone.」
The only one left, Rei heaved a sigh and then saying so joined them.
Thus, all of them prepared themselves to fight against Alfred.
「In that case, each one of you please take the left and right side. Me and sensei will attack him with magic from the front.」
Christina issued her instructions to Kouta and Rei. Kouta-tachi moved according to her instructions and took their posts.
Because of the rapid firing of magic, their front view was completely blocked by a dust cloud. But, maybe because his movement had been hindered by Celia’s magic barrage, Alfred didn’t rush at them.
But, such carelessness was a taboo in the middle of battle.
Alfred’s figure that had vanished within the cloud of dust revealed itself.
「GUH」
Rei who had been keeping watch on their left side received a surprise attack. When he was about to warn the rest of the party, a punch into his guts made him faint in agony.
Thereupon――、
「UWAAAAAAAA!」
Kouta who had found Alfred pounceding at him while shouting in a loud voice.
But, Alfred landed another punch to Kouta’s guts and make him faint.
The two Japanese youth were dispatched in no time.
「Aren’t they the friends of the hero who escaped from the royal castle? in that case――」
Alfred crouched to examine Kouta-tachi and then looked at Christina and Celia.
Their bodies trembled.
But, Celia mustered her courage to stand before Christina as if to protect her.
And then she chanted a spell.
「E, 《Earth Prison》」
Following Celia’s chant, a magic formation appeared on the ground.
But, Alfred stabbed his sword to the ground and completely obliterated the magic formation.
「It’s futile. This sword can absorb magical power.」
Alfred walked slowly towards them while saying those words, reducing the distance between them.
「《Blast Shoot》」
Even so, Celia didn’t giving up, she chanted the aria for a wind bullet.
But, Alfred easily brushed that away with the shield that was on his arm.
「………….. Who are you? You seem like a skilled magician but I can see that you’re lacking combat experience. I can’t feel any killing intent from your attacks at all.」
Though Alfred asked that question, Celia had no intention of answering him.
At that moment, Charles who had brought several knights with him arrived at the scene.
「Yup, we finally cornered them.」
Charles chuckled when he saw the unconcious Kouta and Rei.
「The magician over there. Remove your hood. You’ve forced me to crawl on the ground. I won’t let you go.」
Following that, Charles ordered Celia to remove her hood.
But, Celia did not obediently remove her hood.
Charles is clicked his tongue and then――,
「Oi Alfred.」
He gave an order to Alfred by jerking his chin. His sign might have been something along 「Remove her hood by force.」.
Alfred heaved a sigh and went towards Celia with his sword tightly grasped in his hand. Celia and Christina retreated bit-by-bit.
But, Alfred instantly closed in on them and swung his sword aiming to cut Celia’s hood.
Celia unintentionally shut her eyes tightly.
At that instant, a gust of wind gently caressed her cheeks. Almost at the same time, she could hear a high pitched sound of metal clashing against metal――,
「……」
Celia slowly opened her eyes.
There, she saw Rio’s figure standing before her.
His unsheathed sword was locked against Alfred’s.
「Sorry, I’m late.」
Chapter 132.2 : Fierce Combat
Charles shouted at him with a flustered voice. He was still groveling on the ground after falling from his griffon.
Alfred heaved a sigh and turned his griffon to chase after Christina-tachi. His flying speed was faster than them and so easily caught up to them.
「AS IF I’LL LET YOU!《Enchant Physical Ability》」
Vanessa also suddenly increased he speed as she unsheathed her long sword and leapt towards Alfred. And thus she slashed her sword at Alfred who was flying at a low altitude.
But, Alfred also unsheathed the long sword that was placed on his saddle and thwarted Vanessa’s attack.
When their sword clashed, Vanessa staggered back.
Though Vanessa grimaced at the overwhelming difference in strength, she landed safely on the ground. And then, she sent her warning to Christina-tachi.
「BEHIND!」
「EH? 」
Celia who was running at the back of the formation reacted to Vanessa’s voice and glanced behind. Then, Alfred who had noticed that something was coming at from a short distance away in front of him was startled.
「《Wind Cutter》」
Celia stretched her arm out as she chanted the aria. Countless small wind blades came out from the magic square that appeared in front of her palm.
「《Photon Bullet》」
Slightly slower than her was Christina who had also seen Alphonse and decided to add another attack.
Though those two spells had low killing power, their invocation speed was fast and could be fired in rapid succession. He made his griffon fly higher in seeing the incoming attacks that were enough to endanger his life.
Alfred controlled his griffon and did a barrel roll to dodge the incoming magic. After flying to a safe height, he jumped from his griffon and landed on the ground.
After their rider was gone, the griffons flew back towards Charles-tachi who were left behind.
On the other hand, Vanessa fixed her stance and then slashed her sword at Alfred just as he landed on the ground.
「PLEASE RUN WHILE I STALL HIM!」
Vanessa screamed as she attacked Alfred. Christina-tachi reluctantly broke into a run.
Alfred calmly stopped Vanessa’s attacks with his sword . And then stepping back lightly after their swords had been locked together for a few seconds.
This crumbled Vanessa’s balance.
「Your stance is too rigid.」
Alfred calmly thrust his sword aiming at the gap born due to her crumbling balance.
Vanessa calmly reacted to that strike as she retreated.
But, her attire was caught by his sword. It was supposed to be a thick robe and yet Alfred’s sword easily tore it like a piece of paper.
Alfred was startled as her face came into view.
「You……………… What happened to your hair? Did you dye it? Nay…………… Oh, whatever. I’ll have to kill you if you keep resisting, Vanessa.」
Though Alfred showed a worried look on his face, it was instantly replaced with an indifferent expression.
Vanessa gritting her teeth shouted――,
「WHY, WHY ARE YOU HERE! ? Sword of the king! 」
She slashed her sword while shouting at him.
「………… Because this is a direct order of his majesty.」
Alfred repliedas he parried her strike.s
「THERE’S NO WAY IT’S HIS ORDER! NO, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT IT’S HIS MAJESTY’S TRUE INTENTION! ? OLDER BROTHER! 」
「I have no intention of chatting with you.」
After blatantly telling her that, Alfred flicked off Vanessa’s sword which had entwined with his.
「KUH!」
「This is the end.」
Alfred saying so thrust his sword towards Vanessa’s neck. By then, Charles-tachi already caught up to him.
「Well done, Alfred! Leave that rebel to this guy and chase after the princess. Refrain from killing the others.」
After ordering one of the knights who had come with him to bind Vanessa, Charles ordered Alfred to chase after Christina-tachi.
Though Vanessa put up some resistant, she was eventually pinned down by several men.
Alfred heaved a sigh and ran towards the national border to chase after Christina-tachi. His speed was twice that of Christina-tachi who had strengthened their physical ability with magic.
Following after him was Charles who took a few knights with him while leaving behind one knight to watch over Vanessa.
◇ ◇ ◇
「I-IT CAME! B-BEHIND US!」
Kouta was the one who shouted. He was the first one to notice Alfred as he had looked back to confirm the situation in the middle of their sprint. Alfred was chasing after them with a breakneck speed.
Celia confirmed that and,
「《Lightning Rain》」
She chanted the aria of a spell.
A while later, a gigantic magic formation appeared high above Celia which then released numerous lightning bolts toward Alfred.
The lightning bolts exploded upon contact with the ground creating a huge cloud of dust.
「Leave him to me. You guys keep going.」
Celia said so with a resolute face.
「L-Let me to help you too!」
Kouta hurriedly offered his help. But, Celia blatantly refused his offer.
「You can’t you know. Since Vanessa-san’s primary duty wasn’t fulfilled, you’ll only become a hindrance even if you stay with me. Please leave this place to me.」
「But! 」
「It’s fine! 」
Despite chatting with Kouta, Celia was continuously controlling her magical power and was sending wave after wave of lightning bolts from the magic formation in the sky without even taking a break.
「Your highness, are you really okay with things turning this way! ? What will happen to Vanessa-san if we leave her as it is? 」
Kouta is asked Christina with a sour face.
Christina could only bite her lips. And then, her feet slowly moved. And brought herself to Celia’s side.
Celia stared at Christina with a dumbfounded gaze.
「Our opponent is Alfred. There’s no guarantee that we can escape from him. In that case, let’s fight him in this place and find another way to survive.」
Christina resolutely said so.
「Your highness…….. I Understand.」
After a moment of hesitation, Celia resolved herself.
「In that case, let me in too.」
Kouta said so in high spirits.
「…………… Well, let me in too then. Let’s do our best. It’s not like I can leave Kouta alone.」
The only one left, Rei heaved a sigh and then saying so joined them.
Thus, all of them prepared themselves to fight against Alfred.
「In that case, each one of you please take the left and right side. Me and sensei will attack him with magic from the front.」
Christina issued her instructions to Kouta and Rei. Kouta-tachi moved according to her instructions and took their posts.
Because of the rapid firing of magic, their front view was completely blocked by a dust cloud. But, maybe because his movement had been hindered by Celia’s magic barrage, Alfred didn’t rush at them.
But, such carelessness was a taboo in the middle of battle.
Alfred’s figure that had vanished within the cloud of dust revealed itself.
「GUH」
Rei who had been keeping watch on their left side received a surprise attack. When he was about to warn the rest of the party, a punch into his guts made him faint in agony.
Thereupon――、
「UWAAAAAAAA!」
Kouta who had found Alfred pounceding at him while shouting in a loud voice.
But, Alfred landed another punch to Kouta’s guts and make him faint.
The two Japanese youth were dispatched in no time.
「Aren’t they the friends of the hero who escaped from the royal castle? in that case――」
Alfred crouched to examine Kouta-tachi and then looked at Christina and Celia.
Their bodies trembled.
But, Celia mustered her courage to stand before Christina as if to protect her.
And then she chanted a spell.
「E, 《Earth Prison》」
Following Celia’s chant, a magic formation appeared on the ground.
But, Alfred stabbed his sword to the ground and completely obliterated the magic formation.
「It’s futile. This sword can absorb magical power.」
Alfred walked slowly towards them while saying those words, reducing the distance between them.
「《Blast Shoot》」
Even so, Celia didn’t giving up, she chanted the aria for a wind bullet.
But, Alfred easily brushed that away with the shield that was on his arm.
「………….. Who are you? You seem like a skilled magician but I can see that you’re lacking combat experience. I can’t feel any killing intent from your attacks at all.」
Though Alfred asked that question, Celia had no intention of answering him.
At that moment, Charles who had brought several knights with him arrived at the scene.
「Yup, we finally cornered them.」
Charles chuckled when he saw the unconcious Kouta and Rei.
「The magician over there. Remove your hood. You’ve forced me to crawl on the ground. I won’t let you go.」
Following that, Charles ordered Celia to remove her hood.
But, Celia did not obediently remove her hood.
Charles is clicked his tongue and then――,
「Oi Alfred.」
He gave an order to Alfred by jerking his chin. His sign might have been something along 「Remove her hood by force.」.
Alfred heaved a sigh and went towards Celia with his sword tightly grasped in his hand. Celia and Christina retreated bit-by-bit.
But, Alfred instantly closed in on them and swung his sword aiming to cut Celia’s hood.
Celia unintentionally shut her eyes tightly.
At that instant, a gust of wind gently caressed her cheeks. Almost at the same time, she could hear a high pitched sound of metal clashing against metal――,
「……」
Celia slowly opened her eyes.
There, she saw Rio’s figure standing before her.
His unsheathed sword was locked against Alfred’s.
「Sorry, I’m late.」
