Translator: Jiro Editor: Ryunakama
After hearing my question, the girl made some weird movements before turning around to hide her face.
「You must have the wrong person… It’s not me… M-My name is Claudia…」 The girl answered while hiding her mouth with her mantle…
There’s no mistaking it, that’s Claude alright. And he even tried to fool me by using a different name…
In order to avoid my suspicious look Claude turned, and pointed at the Dark Demon.
「T-That aside. We should focus on taking down the enemy first!!」 she said.
「…Well I guess you’re right. I’ll ask you for the details later, is that okay with you Claudia?」
「O-Okay…」
Her imposing tone from just now was nowhere to be found as she replied timidly while looking down.
I guess the Holy Knight that Oaks spoke of must have been Claude. But why is Claude, who is supposed to be in the North Continent here? …The only things here are my house, and the black monsters who recently started assaulting the town…
「…Could it be that you’re protecting Nanami from the black monsters?」
「That’s… You’re right… Although it might have been unnecessary…」 Claude said in a quiet tone.
I see. Then it makes sense. Claude probably took care of the Dark Zells around the city, not letting them in. In a situation where the Dispatch Magicians have their hands full, Claude protected my hometown in secret from the unknown dark monsters.
「It was by no means unnecessary. Thank you Claude.」
「I’m telling you my name is Claudia……」
I couldn’t stop laughing after witnessing how stubborn she was.
「…Still, to think that you’d put on a mask and hide your face…」
「I’m telling you, you have the wrong person! It’s embarrassing! I used to live here before!」
「There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, no one else besides us knows who you are. …Your hair. You grew it out huh. It suits you.」
「…Thank you.」 she said as her cheeks flushed and she tried to hide her delight by turning her head away.
And behind her, the flabbergasted Dark Demon, who had just had its Black Zero completely blocked, swung down its spear at us.
A wind sprung up and covered the area around it.
Black Bullet huh.
Dozens of wind bullets aimed at Claude… However, it was to no avail.
The rain of wind bullets disappeared just before they could touch her. The mage killer spell, Screen Point.
It was Claude’s Unique Spell. It covered her body and could disperse all kinds of spells.
Even the Black Zero from before, which boasted enough power to wipe out its target, proved to be useless before Claude’s Screen Point.
「…It won’t work.」
As Claude swung down her longsword, a breeze blew away the smoke.
As I tried to go forward she waved her cloak and stopped me.
「Zeph-kun, I’ll go forward!」
「And I’ll take the rear, right?」
「…Yes!!」 she said while nodding and turned towards the Dark Demon, sword and shield in hand.
She had the same orthodox stance as before, but the feeling of mastery she gave off now, was incomparable to before.
She must have trained hard these past three years.
「Shuuu……」
Having realized that spells wouldn’t work the Dark Demon decided to get in close and landed on the ground.
The spear wielding Dark Demon against the sword wielding Claude. Both of them, while holding onto their weapon of choice, stood and seized up one another for a few seconds.
The thing that broke the silence was the sudden appearance of a while flame, which enveloped the Dark Demon.
Double Fusion: Nova Sphere.
Seeing him full of openings I blasted him with a spell.
「Gyaaa!!!」
The white flames wrapped around the Dark Demon’s just like a snake.
You imbecile, who told you this would be a one on one fight. Your opponent isn’t just Claude. I can’t have you forgetting that I’m here as well.
One of the Dark Demon’s hands flew up in the air the following minute, while still being scorched by the flames.
Claude hadn’t missed the opportunity and had charged in to cut it off cleanly with a single slash.
Each time her sword danced, more and more traces stacked up on the Dark Demon’s body.
「HAAAA!!」
Claude’s swordsmanship was so accomplished that each of her strokes seemed to conceal a few more.
After her ferocious rush she firmly planted her foot on the ground, took on a low pose with her sword and slowly lowered her body. After which she suddenly disappeared.
In the next instant she appeared behind the Dark Demon, tucking away her sword in its scabbard.
A metal sang rang out and alongside it a trace of a sword slash bloomed like a flower on the Dark Demon’s body.
Without turning to look back Claude whispered something.
「White Flash.」
「……」
Without realizing what had just happened the Dark Demon desperately tried to grab onto Claude. However, its hand split into pieces which fell to the ground and disappeared.
Each time the Dark Demon attempted to move its body crumbled, and just like that it dispersed.
「It’s over.」 Claude said, turning around as a strong wind blew past her.
While her lovely golden hair flapped, the Dark Demon’s body was carried away by the wind and vanished into the sky.
Claude gave a final look towards the Dark Demon, before she turned around to face me.
Even if one were to destroy the body of the monster, the monster’s magic power value wouldn’t be reduced significantly; but, if the body was split into more than a specified number of parts, the monster would vanish regardless of its remaining magic power.
Of course, a considerable amount of attack power was needed to perform the feet. …You’ve grown stronger Claude.
「Holy Knight… No, Claudia-san!!」 Oaks yelled out.
Despite having her name called, Claude just gazed off blankly.
Good grief. Wasn’t it you, who called yourself Claudia just a moment ago, and now you don’t even respond when you’re called.
After I slightly poked her with my elbow she finally came to.
Without caring that he had been ignored by Claude, Oaks lowered his head to the ground.
「I deeply apologize!」
「E-Eh…?」
Claude was taken aback by Oaks’ sudden actions, however she then clapped her hands as if she had remembered something.
「…Could you be the one from that time?」 she asked.
「T-That’s right!! I’m Oaks. You helped me when I was attacked by the black monsters.」
It seems like Claude had completely forgotten about him. I guess the masked ally of justice couldn’t remember the people she saved due to there being so many of them. In a sense, that’s just like her.
「I didn’t impersonate you with any ill intentions in mine… It’s just that I’m weak… And I wanted to become strong fast… So I imitated your appearance and tricked the people of this town… I’m really sorry!!!」
「……」
Faced with Oaks’ confession, Claude didn’t say anything.
Seeing her act like that, Oaks got even more frightened and lowered his head even further.
「I‘ll return all of the money that I received from the villagers!! So please… forgive me…!!!」 Oaks said while weeping.
Seeing him like that, Claude kneeled down and put her hand on his shoulder.
「Please lift your head. I’m not angry.」
「Claudia-san…」
With a complicated expression on her face, Claude smiled at Oaks, as he lifted up his teary-eyed face.
「It’s fine if you’re weak now. As long as you have the will to become stronger you definitely will. …It was the same for me in the past.」
「…T-Thank you… Thank you…!!!」
「That is why Oaks-san you have to keep trying.」 she said, while putting out her hand. Oaks grabbed onto it, while his tears streamed down his face.
…I guess it’s about time.
Deciding that it was time to leave this place I placed my hand on Claude’s shoulder.
「There are still more enemies you know.」
「Oh!! You’re right… You’ll have to excuse me. I need to go.」 she said.
「…Okay!! Be careful Claudia-san!!」 Oaks said.
「Ahahaha…」 Claude gave a dry laugh to Oaks, who wasn’t able to clear away the misunderstanding until the very end.
「Still, Claude, I was quite shocked to meet you in a place like this.」 I said.
「Ehehe. Same goes for me. I was certain that I’d definitely meet you one day, but I didn’t think that it’d be this soon…」 she said while laughing.
With Claude alongside me, we rushed to meet up with Shirushu.
As we were moving I received a telepathy from Shirushu, who had lost contact with me earlier, and according to it, she had gotten through the bind she was in by turning into her beastfolk form and was currently heading towards us.
I wasn’t sure if it was because we had defeated the Dark Demon, but the Dark Imps in the town were beginning to disappear.
The Dark Demon must have called them out. Well either way, it’s good that everyone’s okay…
「… By the way, Claude, why aren’t you taking your mask off?」
「Huh?!」 When she heard my query, Claude was taken aback, stopping in her tracks and looking at me with an ashamed face.
「It’s hard to see with that thing, isn’t it? Your cover has already been blown, so there’s no point in hiding anymore.」
「…That is indeed true but…」 she said while fiddling with her fingers.
Her face flushed, and her mouth moved slowly as she attempted to speak in a very quiet tone.
「…I-I’m just too ashamed to look at you without it…」
「…HUH?」 I replied instinctively.
「Wasn’t it because of me that you had to go through that, Zeph-kun? That’s why I…」
「I see now…」
Come to think of it, Claude did attack me three years ago under Grain’s influence. It wasn’t that big of a deal, to think that she’d still be worried about it.
I let out a sigh and put my fingers on Claude’s mask.
「…You don’t have to worry about that any more. It’s fine, so take your mask off.」
「Even if you say that… I-I don’t want someone to take it off for me!」
「…Then can you do it yourself?」
「…Ugh… I’ll try…」 Claude said, placing her hands on her mask.
「I-I’m taking it off…」 she said as she nervously took her mask off.
Her eyes slowly lashed open, and her brilliant blue eyes peered out from beneath the mask. Her face appeared to be a little more mature than before, and it even had a seductive edge to it.
She stopped just as the mask had reached the area around her mouth and looked up at me, while asking in a quiet tone.
「I-Is this fine…?」
She still had some infantile features three years ago, but now with her hair grown out as well, she looked like a proper woman.
「You’ve grown into quite the beauty. I almost couldn’t recognize you.」
「……」
As I drew in closer to get a better look Claude’s face turned bright red.
Just as I drew in even further, just right before our faces were about to touch, Claude suddenly jumped forward and hugged me.
「Whoa?!D-Don’t scare me like that…」
「…Hehe. I’m sorry, Zeph-kun. … But please, just let me stay like this for a bit.」
「…Well I don’t mind.」
Well it’s been three whole years, I might as well let her do as she pleases until Shirushu comes.
As I thought that, my eyes wandered to Claude’s neck area. There I saw that she was still wearing the choker that I had given to her as a present before. I couldn’t see it because of her coat before, but it seems like she’s treasuring it.
Knowing that I got quite happy.
As a way to give back to her for treasuring it, I wrapped my hands around her back.
「Zeph-san!! Claude-san!!」 Shirushu yelled out from afar.
「Shirushu!」
「It’s been a while Shirushu-san!」 Claude said.
「I know!!」
Both of them embraced one other after exchanging hello.
「Good grief, calm down a bit Shirushu.」
「Ahahaha, I’m sorry.」
「That aside, are there any more monsters left in the town?」
「There aren’t any monsters that stand out in the town but…」 She stopped midway as she turned to look at the white horse flying in the air.
Milly.
「… Well then, let’s go help her!」
「Okay!!」 Shirushu replied.
I took Claude and Shirushu’s hands and cast Teleport.
Translator: Jiro Editor: Ryunakama
After hearing my question, the girl made some weird movements before turning around to hide her face.
「You must have the wrong person… It’s not me… M-My name is Claudia…」 The girl answered while hiding her mouth with her mantle…
There’s no mistaking it, that’s Claude alright. And he even tried to fool me by using a different name…
In order to avoid my suspicious look Claude turned, and pointed at the Dark Demon.
「T-That aside. We should focus on taking down the enemy first!!」 she said.
「…Well I guess you’re right. I’ll ask you for the details later, is that okay with you Claudia?」
「O-Okay…」
Her imposing tone from just now was nowhere to be found as she replied timidly while looking down.
I guess the Holy Knight that Oaks spoke of must have been Claude. But why is Claude, who is supposed to be in the North Continent here? …The only things here are my house, and the black monsters who recently started assaulting the town…
「…Could it be that you’re protecting Nanami from the black monsters?」
「That’s… You’re right… Although it might have been unnecessary…」 Claude said in a quiet tone.
I see. Then it makes sense. Claude probably took care of the Dark Zells around the city, not letting them in. In a situation where the Dispatch Magicians have their hands full, Claude protected my hometown in secret from the unknown dark monsters.
「It was by no means unnecessary. Thank you Claude.」
「I’m telling you my name is Claudia……」
I couldn’t stop laughing after witnessing how stubborn she was.
「…Still, to think that you’d put on a mask and hide your face…」
「I’m telling you, you have the wrong person! It’s embarrassing! I used to live here before!」
「There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, no one else besides us knows who you are. …Your hair. You grew it out huh. It suits you.」
「…Thank you.」 she said as her cheeks flushed and she tried to hide her delight by turning her head away.
And behind her, the flabbergasted Dark Demon, who had just had its Black Zero completely blocked, swung down its spear at us.
A wind sprung up and covered the area around it.
Black Bullet huh.
Dozens of wind bullets aimed at Claude… However, it was to no avail.
The rain of wind bullets disappeared just before they could touch her. The mage killer spell, Screen Point.
It was Claude’s Unique Spell. It covered her body and could disperse all kinds of spells.
Even the Black Zero from before, which boasted enough power to wipe out its target, proved to be useless before Claude’s Screen Point.
「…It won’t work.」
As Claude swung down her longsword, a breeze blew away the smoke.
As I tried to go forward she waved her cloak and stopped me.
「Zeph-kun, I’ll go forward!」
「And I’ll take the rear, right?」
「…Yes!!」 she said while nodding and turned towards the Dark Demon, sword and shield in hand.
She had the same orthodox stance as before, but the feeling of mastery she gave off now, was incomparable to before.
She must have trained hard these past three years.
「Shuuu……」
Having realized that spells wouldn’t work the Dark Demon decided to get in close and landed on the ground.
The spear wielding Dark Demon against the sword wielding Claude. Both of them, while holding onto their weapon of choice, stood and seized up one another for a few seconds.
The thing that broke the silence was the sudden appearance of a while flame, which enveloped the Dark Demon.
Double Fusion: Nova Sphere.
Seeing him full of openings I blasted him with a spell.
「Gyaaa!!!」
The white flames wrapped around the Dark Demon’s just like a snake.
You imbecile, who told you this would be a one on one fight. Your opponent isn’t just Claude. I can’t have you forgetting that I’m here as well.
One of the Dark Demon’s hands flew up in the air the following minute, while still being scorched by the flames.
Claude hadn’t missed the opportunity and had charged in to cut it off cleanly with a single slash.
Each time her sword danced, more and more traces stacked up on the Dark Demon’s body.
「HAAAA!!」
Claude’s swordsmanship was so accomplished that each of her strokes seemed to conceal a few more.
After her ferocious rush she firmly planted her foot on the ground, took on a low pose with her sword and slowly lowered her body. After which she suddenly disappeared.
In the next instant she appeared behind the Dark Demon, tucking away her sword in its scabbard.
A metal sang rang out and alongside it a trace of a sword slash bloomed like a flower on the Dark Demon’s body.
Without turning to look back Claude whispered something.
「White Flash.」
「……」
Without realizing what had just happened the Dark Demon desperately tried to grab onto Claude. However, its hand split into pieces which fell to the ground and disappeared.
Each time the Dark Demon attempted to move its body crumbled, and just like that it dispersed.
「It’s over.」 Claude said, turning around as a strong wind blew past her.
While her lovely golden hair flapped, the Dark Demon’s body was carried away by the wind and vanished into the sky.
Claude gave a final look towards the Dark Demon, before she turned around to face me.
Even if one were to destroy the body of the monster, the monster’s magic power value wouldn’t be reduced significantly; but, if the body was split into more than a specified number of parts, the monster would vanish regardless of its remaining magic power.
Of course, a considerable amount of attack power was needed to perform the feet. …You’ve grown stronger Claude.
「Holy Knight… No, Claudia-san!!」 Oaks yelled out.
Despite having her name called, Claude just gazed off blankly.
Good grief. Wasn’t it you, who called yourself Claudia just a moment ago, and now you don’t even respond when you’re called.
After I slightly poked her with my elbow she finally came to.
Without caring that he had been ignored by Claude, Oaks lowered his head to the ground.
「I deeply apologize!」
「E-Eh…?」
Claude was taken aback by Oaks’ sudden actions, however she then clapped her hands as if she had remembered something.
「…Could you be the one from that time?」 she asked.
「T-That’s right!! I’m Oaks. You helped me when I was attacked by the black monsters.」
It seems like Claude had completely forgotten about him. I guess the masked ally of justice couldn’t remember the people she saved due to there being so many of them. In a sense, that’s just like her.
「I didn’t impersonate you with any ill intentions in mine… It’s just that I’m weak… And I wanted to become strong fast… So I imitated your appearance and tricked the people of this town… I’m really sorry!!!」
「……」
Faced with Oaks’ confession, Claude didn’t say anything.
Seeing her act like that, Oaks got even more frightened and lowered his head even further.
「I‘ll return all of the money that I received from the villagers!! So please… forgive me…!!!」 Oaks said while weeping.
Seeing him like that, Claude kneeled down and put her hand on his shoulder.
「Please lift your head. I’m not angry.」
「Claudia-san…」
With a complicated expression on her face, Claude smiled at Oaks, as he lifted up his teary-eyed face.
「It’s fine if you’re weak now. As long as you have the will to become stronger you definitely will. …It was the same for me in the past.」
「…T-Thank you… Thank you…!!!」
「That is why Oaks-san you have to keep trying.」 she said, while putting out her hand. Oaks grabbed onto it, while his tears streamed down his face.
…I guess it’s about time.
Deciding that it was time to leave this place I placed my hand on Claude’s shoulder.
「There are still more enemies you know.」
「Oh!! You’re right… You’ll have to excuse me. I need to go.」 she said.
「…Okay!! Be careful Claudia-san!!」 Oaks said.
「Ahahaha…」 Claude gave a dry laugh to Oaks, who wasn’t able to clear away the misunderstanding until the very end.
「Still, Claude, I was quite shocked to meet you in a place like this.」 I said.
「Ehehe. Same goes for me. I was certain that I’d definitely meet you one day, but I didn’t think that it’d be this soon…」 she said while laughing.
With Claude alongside me, we rushed to meet up with Shirushu.
As we were moving I received a telepathy from Shirushu, who had lost contact with me earlier, and according to it, she had gotten through the bind she was in by turning into her beastfolk form and was currently heading towards us.
I wasn’t sure if it was because we had defeated the Dark Demon, but the Dark Imps in the town were beginning to disappear.
The Dark Demon must have called them out. Well either way, it’s good that everyone’s okay…
「… By the way, Claude, why aren’t you taking your mask off?」
「Huh?!」 When she heard my query, Claude was taken aback, stopping in her tracks and looking at me with an ashamed face.
「It’s hard to see with that thing, isn’t it? Your cover has already been blown, so there’s no point in hiding anymore.」
「…That is indeed true but…」 she said while fiddling with her fingers.
Her face flushed, and her mouth moved slowly as she attempted to speak in a very quiet tone.
「…I-I’m just too ashamed to look at you without it…」
「…HUH?」 I replied instinctively.
「Wasn’t it because of me that you had to go through that, Zeph-kun? That’s why I…」
「I see now…」
Come to think of it, Claude did attack me three years ago under Grain’s influence. It wasn’t that big of a deal, to think that she’d still be worried about it.
I let out a sigh and put my fingers on Claude’s mask.
「…You don’t have to worry about that any more. It’s fine, so take your mask off.」
「Even if you say that… I-I don’t want someone to take it off for me!」
「…Then can you do it yourself?」
「…Ugh… I’ll try…」 Claude said, placing her hands on her mask.
「I-I’m taking it off…」 she said as she nervously took her mask off.
Her eyes slowly lashed open, and her brilliant blue eyes peered out from beneath the mask. Her face appeared to be a little more mature than before, and it even had a seductive edge to it.
She stopped just as the mask had reached the area around her mouth and looked up at me, while asking in a quiet tone.
「I-Is this fine…?」
She still had some infantile features three years ago, but now with her hair grown out as well, she looked like a proper woman.
「You’ve grown into quite the beauty. I almost couldn’t recognize you.」
「……」
As I drew in closer to get a better look Claude’s face turned bright red.
Just as I drew in even further, just right before our faces were about to touch, Claude suddenly jumped forward and hugged me.
「Whoa?!D-Don’t scare me like that…」
「…Hehe. I’m sorry, Zeph-kun. … But please, just let me stay like this for a bit.」
「…Well I don’t mind.」
Well it’s been three whole years, I might as well let her do as she pleases until Shirushu comes.
As I thought that, my eyes wandered to Claude’s neck area. There I saw that she was still wearing the choker that I had given to her as a present before. I couldn’t see it because of her coat before, but it seems like she’s treasuring it.
Knowing that I got quite happy.
As a way to give back to her for treasuring it, I wrapped my hands around her back.
「Zeph-san!! Claude-san!!」 Shirushu yelled out from afar.
「Shirushu!」
「It’s been a while Shirushu-san!」 Claude said.
「I know!!」
Both of them embraced one other after exchanging hello.
「Good grief, calm down a bit Shirushu.」
「Ahahaha, I’m sorry.」
「That aside, are there any more monsters left in the town?」
「There aren’t any monsters that stand out in the town but…」 She stopped midway as she turned to look at the white horse flying in the air.
Milly.
「… Well then, let’s go help her!」
「Okay!!」 Shirushu replied.
I took Claude and Shirushu’s hands and cast Teleport.
