It was a superhuman feat for someone who had lost her magical abilities. The speed of the incoming sword was greater than that of which I assumed Joan’s motor skills were capable. Durandal was on a clear path to my skull, and I was unable to get out of its way. Just then … everything appeared to be moving in slow motion to my hysteria mode eyes. There was one technique that would help me to overcome this situation—and it required both of my hands. But I couldn’t allow myself to let go of the pistol in my right hand. Speaking in terms of chess, it was a piece I needed in order to achieve checkmate. That’s why I used my empty left hand …
“… Ngh …!”
…to stop the magic sword, Durandal. It was the method of catching a sword blade with one’s bare hands—the single-handed version. I was a bit skeptical as to whether or not I could put it off, but I did it. It was thanks to hysteria mode ... and to the training Aria gave me.
“…!” Holding the hilt of her sword, Joan landed right beside me. “… I can’t believe you ...” Joan looked at edge of her prized sword being gripped between my index finger and middle finger, but as I expected, she still didn’t seem to have lost her fighting instincts. Keeping her sword in my left hand, I placed the barrel of the gun in my right hand against the back of her neck.
“. . . This is the end of the line, Joan. It would be best for you to behave like a good little girl,” I said, chastising her like a child.
“Butei Charter, Article Nine,” she replied.
I slightly averted my gaze and smiled wryly. She was right. If I were going to uphold the law, I wouldn’t be able shoot Joan in the neck.
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten. Buteis can’t kill people.”
“Ha ha. You certainly are a clever young lady.”
“Y-Young lady?” Joan must have found the designation embarrassing because, her face slightly reddened. “B-But I’m not a butei!” she said, straining the arms in which she held her sword.
Come on now. You’re already captured, young lady. This battle is over. The reason being …
The sound of footsteps made by getas with red thongs could be heard racing towards us.
“Don’t you lay a hand on Kin-chan!!” cried Shirayuki as she came running at us with magic sword Durandal in her sights. “… Hihinohotogikami (Scarlet God of Hotogi)!”
Similar to iai style, Shirayuki drew her katana from its scabbard and swung it upwards in one fluid motion. A scarlet flash of light came out along with the katana ... and the upward swung blade sliced through Durandal. It then sent an eddy of flames like those from an incendiary bomb spiraling upwards towards the roof far above. The frozen ceiling and the layer of ice covering it shattered as if it were blown up by a grenade launcher! As debris fell all around her, Joan stood there dumbfounded at the fact that Durnadal had been cut in two.
“…!”
At the very end of it all, yet again did something she hadn't accounted for take place. Joan, having a weakness for such things, could do nothing but stand there with her sapphire eyes wide open.
“Durandal!” an anime-like voice called out. Aria took advantage of the opportunity, and the sound of handcuffs being clamped onto Joan’s right wrist could be heard.
“Ah?!” Joan looked at her wrist, and what she saw attached to it were anti-esper handcuffs. It probably shouldn’t even require mentioning, but they were handcuffs that Aria bought on the first day she began acting as Shirayuki’s bodyguard.
“You’re under arrest!!” Aria pounced on Joan like a carnivorous beast and cuffed her left wrist as well.
“That’s why I said ‘It would be best for you to behave like a good little girl.’” Spinning the top half of Durandal’s blade, which had been cut near the hand guard, I grabbed it by its lower end. Meanwhile Aria, clinging fast to Joan, put additional handcuffs on her ankles. I took my watchful gaze off of Aria. Although her actions didn’t suggest it, like Aria, she was, after all, a young lady who came from a very proud lineage. That confidence of hers did prove to be her downfall though.
Joan, till the very end, you made light of Aria and I—of buteis. That was the cause of your defeat. But the buteis gathered here are Holmes the Fouth a. k. a. Aria the Quadra, and I in hysteria mode working effectively as partners. We aren’t “mere buteis”.
I let a sigh out of my nose and walked over towards Shirayuki, who had used up all of her strength and was sunk down on the floor surrounded by debris. As soon as our eyes met, she returned her katana, now void of flames, to its scabbard and hid it away.
“K-Kin-chan.”
She looked like she was about to say she was sorry, so I made a warning sign with my finger and gave her a look that said “Stop right there.”
“…Th…thank you.”
“Thank you,” huh? I guess that gets a passing mark.
“Shirayuki, you really pulled through. We were able to arrest Durandal thanks to you.”
“Y … you weren’t … scared?”
“Of what?”
“O … of me just now … I-I was so …” said Shirayuki with moisture in her black eyes underneath her perfectly straight bangs. It would appear she was convinced that I was afraid of the super-natural powers she just displayed.
Ha ha. That’s what you were worried about?
I could see Shirayuki was afraid that I hated her now so I answered her question with a kind smile.
“There’s nothing to be scared of. It was very beautiful and powerful fire. Much, much more so than the fireworks we saw the other day.”
“Kin-chan ... ngh … uuu …”
Shirayuki let out a wail and started crying as she flung her arms around me, so I gently returned her hugged and stroked her on the back.
I’ll do this with you as long as it takes. So quick to cry. Until you calm down . . . I’ll just continue to tenderly rub you on the back. Just like I did when we were kids, and you were crying because we got in trouble for going to the fireworks festival. Indeed. When it came to this sort of thing, Shirayuki hadn’t changed at all. But … she’d become quite strong—strong enough to break out of Hotogi’s bird cage, spread her fiery wings, and fight of her own will. Sniveling, Shirayuki looked up at me, and I told her some words to help put her at ease.
“Don’t go disappearing on me like that again ... Shirayuki,” I said, showing her another smile.