Chapter 42

CHAPTER 5 Individual Struggles Hitoshi Kataoka, Sir Tristan, and Morgan overcame the boundary, appearing in the netherworld. The scene before them was an expanse of snow. “Wh-what is this…place…?” Hitoshi gaped. They were in the courtyard of Camelot International High School. Although they were surrounded by buildings, it didn’t feel that way. Trees and colorful flower beds dotted the area. The garden had geometrically trimmed hedges that lulled any visitor into complete relaxation. But everything was blanketed in snow and ice. “I won’t let you through.” In the middle stood a girl who looked like she had been waiting for them. Nayuki. Her entire body was cloaked in a blizzard and an icy chill. The personification of winter. In the snow, her frigid face appeared intimidating. “Hmm? You’re here to greet us? I was certain that dumbass would be here.” Hitoshi blinked. “Oh? Did he run home to mommy? I bet he did. Because I’m too powerful. And his power is no match for mine. Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” “……” But Nayuki did not respond. Her cold gaze pierced him. “…Oh yeah… You’re part of Luna’s group…” Hitoshi sighed. “I don’t feel like beating you up…since you’re obviously not a King… And you’re a girl…” “Don’t worry about me. I’m very strong.” Fwoosh. Nayuki lifted her hands, and the blizzard started to whip around…cracking with ice until it formed a sword made from snow. Hitoshi staggered back, seemingly overpowered by her demonic magic. “I won’t let you pass by me. For Rintarou’s sake… If you want to force your way, prepare yourself,” she cautioned, sounding firm in her convictions. “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Nice! Someone’s cool!” …Hitoshi clapped his hands together in delight. “And cute. I kinda like you! You’re wasting your talents by joining Luna’s group of delinquents!” Hitoshi grinned, making a proposal to Nayuki. “Hey! How about you join me? Just abandon Luna and that dumbass!” “!” “I have the potential of a true king. I’m going to become a hero and save the world. You would shine brighter working under me… Am I wrong?” Nayuki was speechless as she watched Hitoshi. “You know how powerful I am. There’s no way you’ll win. Luna is as good as dead. You can already see the outcome. Why don’t you come to this side? I won’t do anything bad to you… Okay?” Hitoshi suggested in a sickly sweet tone. “I was part of the Dame du Lac. Which has allowed me to see all kinds of people who have called themselves heroes,” she quietly responded. “Hmm? Yeah? I guess the Dame du Lac live a long time. And? How do I compare to the other guys? I imagine I rank—” “They all share a common quality.” “…Hmm? Like what?” He didn’t seem too happy to be interrupted. “No one becomes a hero because they want to.” “?!” “It just happened that they were doing what needed to be done and what they thought should change… Innocent actions catapult commendable achievements that mark those who are known as heroes.” His face had clouded over. “Wh-what are you implying…?” “You’ll never become a hero as long as that’s your goal. If you keep this up…I’m sure you’ll be left with regret and despair…” Her eyes were sympathetic. “End this,” she urged. “You’re not meant to fight in this battle.” But Hitoshi didn’t see the kindness in her words. “First, the dumbass. And now you… How can everyone in Luna’s group be so annoying? Fine… I admit I was wrong for inviting a bitch like you to join me.” With squared shoulders and scowling eyes, Hitoshi began panting raggedly in fury. “Go get her, Sir Tristan! Get that bitch! You think you can get away with things because you’re cute? Yeah, right! Give the conceited airhead a taste of reality!” “…Hmph. Fine. I know a knight shouldn’t raise his hand to a girl… But I have zero cares to give. I’ve already failed as a knight anyway.” Sir Tristan seemed even larger than he actually was. He was as apathetic as always…but his Aura remained as overwhelming as a divine beast. “…Rintarou…please lend me some strength…” But Nayuki neither faltered nor retreated, instead readying her ice sword. And she disappeared, kicking up dancing snowflakes in her wake, charging with her sword through the blizzard. With a gale thrashing around him, Sir Tristan started to strike back. His blade and her icy fury were ready to clash. “Hmm. Looks like they’re firing off.” Sir Dinadan blew out a puff of smoke. “Nice! Look at that! Taking on Tristie? Atta girl! Kids these days… I gotta say, I’m impressed.” “It’s not the time to joke around, Sir Dinadan. I wasted mana manifesting you because you asked to come along. At least try to take this seriously.” “All right, all right…” He took another drag of his cigarette, scanning their surroundings. The area was barred by iron fencing. They stood on the roof of the main building of Camelot International High School. Sure enough, there were people waiting there to greet them. Felicia. And her Jack, Sir Gawain. “…Sir Dinadan?” Sir Gawain called out. “…Is that you?!” “Yo! It’s been a while, G.” This was the first time they’d been on a battlefield together. Sir Gawain blinked in shock. “Are you…Reika’s Jack?! Why were you summoned?! I think I remember you weren’t part of the numbered seats of the Round Table—” “Ha-ha-ha-ha. I’ve got my reasons.” Sir Dinadan flashed a winsome grin. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m just a spectator. I wouldn’t win against you, G. I mean, even your little girl might bash me in… Oh, but I’m definitely stronger than Kay.” He was playful. There wasn’t a hint of abjectness or self-derision as he turned to the sky and blew out smoke. “H-he’s…weird…” “Ah…Sir Dinadan is just like that. How do I put this politely? It’s hard to get a grip on him…,” Sir Gawain admitted. “In that case, Sir Dinadan, I’ll ask you this, knight to knight. Is Reika Tsukuyomi our only opponent? Are you really not going to fight?” “More or less. As long as that witch doesn’t butt in… Not that I think that’ll happen.” Sir Dinadan took off the sword at his hip and cast it away, leaning against the fence that surrounded the roof, smoking another cigarette. It seemed he really didn’t intend to intervene. At a glance, he appeared insincere. But they didn’t have the time to search for a clever look in his eyes. They couldn’t wrap their heads around his curious behavior, but this wasn’t the place to probe into it… …since there was an opponent demanding their immediate attention. “How strange…” Reika Tsukuyomi looked around her surroundings as though she were displeased. “Where is Rintarou Magami…? Where is Merlin? I used my sixth sense to search this place…but I can’t seem to find him anywhere in this netherworld. Even if he was plotting something in the shadows, I would have sensed him.” “…Who knows?” Felicia said, flippant. Reika snorted. “In that case…did he run away?” “……” “Well. I would understand if he did… He’s a big loser and thinks everything is a joke. He wouldn’t blink an eye abandoning his friends if it meant saving him—” “This has nothing to do with him… Aren’t we in the middle of something here?” Felicia seemed annoyed. It must have stemmed from Reika’s comments about him. Reika blinked in surprise. “Right… How about we begin?” With her dagger—her Excalibur—in her left hand, Reika Tsukuyomi turned to Felicia and Sir Gawain and started walking. “I have nothing against you, Felicia Ferald, but I need your life.” With her free hand, she unsheathed another sword. The ornamental blade was snow-white. As her eyes caught the light of Reika’s blade, Felicia brandished her weapon, tense. “And then I’ll finish off Luna and Emma… And I’ll put Ainz out of his misery… I’ll murder all the Kings with my own hands…to fulfill my wish…” Which meant… “Reika Tsukuyomi…you are…you,” Sir Gawain said. “Which is why Sir Dinadan is—?” Reika remained silent. Her face revealed nothing. She just declared one thing—simply, gravely, sternly. “Royal Road—Sword of Destruction!” They were engulfed by a powerful Aura as daggers appeared around Reika. The blades’ tips were pointed at Felicia and Sir Gawain. “…Let’s go, Sir Gawain.” “Yes, ma’am!” Felicia and Sir Gawain didn’t shrink back; instead, they sprinted forward like they were carried by the wind. The daggers rushed in like a meteor shower slicing through the night. There wasn’t a single ray of light at the bottom of the ocean…where a vicious battle continued to unfurl. “AAAAAAH!” Rintarou’s crimson and white pair of blades… “HRAAAAGH!” …Id’s same weapons… They spun around and around, creating a whirlpool as they barreled into each other. With every hit, the water ripped into rings that spread for thousands of miles. The waves crashed into Rintarou. It felt like getting zapped by an electrical current. His body was numb. Even at that moment, he felt like his eardrums were about to burst from the whine of high vibrations coming from the water. “What’s wrong with you?! You’re so slow!” Id boomed, punching down with his blade. Rintarou met his attack with his pair of crossed swords. “AAAAAH?!” But he was overpowered by Id, who was torpedoing through the water. “If this is all you got…I can’t hand over my poooowers!” Id hounded after Rintarou. Though his speed was terrifying, his movements were calculated—like a shiver of sharks hunting their prey. “Take that! Aren’t you supposed to be stealing the Fomorian power from me?! Show me you want it, pal!” Id circled around him quickly, spiraling and pummeling Rintarou with a series of unpredictable attacks. “DAMMIT!” Rintarou desperately parried with his swords to stop the attacks. He didn’t have time to see them anymore. His swords moved with instinct. Id’s moves were his moves. If he hadn’t been familiar with them, he would have been torn to pieces and reduced to fish bait already. Damn…! Crap…! I knew this would happen…but…! He had been prepared, knowing he was at a disadvantage. He’d known he wouldn’t be able to win through any ordinary means. But he had chosen to fight…to save Luna. That didn’t change that he was losing. They were just on fundamentally different levels. As the cold waves crashed into him, he could feel his warmth and spirit wash away with it. The water pressure was starting to crush his body. Breathing was becoming difficult. It was as though he couldn’t get enough oxygen. His heart was on the verge of bursting. He couldn’t perform like he usually did. Even with Fomorian power, he would have still been in the same position. Get ahold of yourself! This is my subconscious! The water pressure and the thinning air are fake! If I let my subconscious get the best of me, that just shows how scared I am…! With his left sword, he parried Id’s sword, which almost slipped by his torso. When the impact hit him, Rintarou swiveled as he was propelled backward before using his Aura to launch himself in the opposite direction. Eventually, when he thought he had finally stopped himself from getting blasted back, Id came directly down on his head to stab him. Rintarou twisted to dodge. But the shock wave washed him away with its staggering tide. I need to remember… I came here to protect Luna…! I’m going to steal the Fomorian power from him…! And then I’m going to save her…! I’m going to beat him and go home…! I’m going back to her…! That’s why—! Id seemed hell-bent on ridiculing Rintarou. “That’s impossible, pal.” “Huh?!” Id appeared in front of Rintarou’s eyes—upside-down. “You have to know that the abyss will stare back at you… Sounds cliché, but it holds a nugget of truth.” “…Gh!” “You shouldn’t have come here… Because it let me cling to your existence. You’re already part of this netherworld…like me. You can’t go back anymore… This place will suck you in… You knew that coming in. Didn’t you?” “Shut up! Get lost!” Rintarou tried to slit Id’s throat. His sword flashed. But the water’s resistance made his movements slow and heavy. That clumsy swing obviously wasn’t enough to strike Id, who moved like he wasn’t underwater. He swam freely, taking his distance from Rintarou. “Ha! That’s it! That’s the spirit!” Id moved away, unruffled and sneering. “I see you flail around and slice through air… Trying to fight me…? Trying to defeat me…? You’re fundamentally wrong.” “Stop blabbing…!” Rintarou barked. “I said I came here to beat you…! What’s so funny about—?” “That’s not like you, Merlin… Come with an open mind… You still don’t get it, do you?” The next moment… Id laughed in his nasty way as his body gradually melted into the darkness, spreading into the ocean. “What…?” A shiver ran up Rintarou’s spine as he went silent. At that instant, he finally realized Id’s words. “That’s right, pal… You understand…” Id’s voice scratched at his mind. “You shouldn’t be fighting me… Your opponent has been the entire ocean…your entire subconscious…this entire time… Heh-heh-heh-heh. HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA-HA!” “—Gh?!” He could sense it from the other side of the darkness. He could feel the horde of beasts rushing toward him with unbridled rage and malice, smelling of murder. Rintarou hadn’t noticed them until now. But the sounds. Oh, the sounds. Fangs clicked; claws scraped; tentacles unwound. He couldn’t identify some of the wretched sounds coming from unknown appendages. They made him sick to his stomach. The creatures of the deep abyss shrieked, asserting their repulsive existence to Rintarou. His heart squeezed in fear. He’d never experienced anything like it. “…Ah!” That was when he knew he shouldn’t have ventured here. He had been naive. Maybe even optimistic. His ego had been too big. He thought he would be able to handle it. But this was a forbidden space that no human could be advised to enter… Some kind of tentacle wetly wrapped around his arms and legs. Something opened its maw, showing him gleaming rows of teeth. Thousands of giant eyes snapped open, focusing all on him. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH?!” His heart had been seized by despair that burst his soul. Suddenly, someone came to their consciousness. “…Rin…tarou…?” It was Luna. “…Where am I…?” Through her mental fog, she took stock of the situation. “…I—I think I remember…someone…stabbed me…?” Her bedridden body felt heavy. It wasn’t moving the way she wanted it to. She rotated her head to scan her surroundings. Her body, which was lying in bed, was heavy and didn’t seem as though it would move. She turned only her head to look around. No one was nearby. Emma was on another bed, sound asleep. “……” She couldn’t comprehend all of this. She was exhausted. All she wanted was to sleep. Her consciousness was hazy. It was hard to think. The world was spinning. “Rintarou…” She thought she’d just heard him call out in despair. She needed to get up now. Do something. Otherwise, she might not ever see her vassal again… That was the only thing that motivated Luna to channel everything into getting out of bed. “…Rin…ta…rou……” Luna desperately clung to her consciousness, which kept trying to slip away. She finally rolled to the side of the bed…until she tumbled off, body heavy. Her entire body was covered with bandages to treat her wounds. She wore only underwear, half-naked. She couldn’t care less. Luna crawled along the ground, inching forward. She crept toward her uniform, splotched with blood and resting on a chair. With shaky hands, she reached for her clothes, then rummaged for something in one of her pockets. They were still in the middle of a battle. It looked like hell had frozen over. Gray—the color of death. Everything was frozen in place, covered in ice. The world was an arctic tundra. “Hah!” Nayuki sprinted through the snowy field, cloaked by a blizzard. She seemed as lithe and swift as a snowshoe hare. Which made Sir Tristan the hunter. He aimed his bow at her. “Hmph.” Sir Tristan fired an arrow as she zigzagged in his vision. His bow, transformed into an artifact, contained his pride and mastery in archery. His arrows were bound with his Aura, hitting their mark unless they were physically struck down. They shot out like autocannons, assaulting Nayuki like hail. “‘Ice spirits, come together and dance—!’” Nayuki chanted. Dance of the Ice Spears. Fairy magic. The blizzard eddied as icicles formed around Nayuki. Their sharp points turned to Sir Tristan, whizzing toward the arrows like a barrage. SHLING-SHLING-SHLING! It sounded like glass was smashing into pieces. Icicles broke as they struck down the arrows. “Is that all you’ve got?” What could that mean? Sir Tristan’s shots were coming far faster than the rate at which Nayuki could use her magic. He spun like a top, firing arrows before she could even take a breath. A swift repetition of three actions: nocking an arrow, pulling the bow, shooting. Each arrow carried a fatal power, but Sir Tristan shot them liberally, like he was wielding a peashooter. “Gah!” On the other hand, Nayuki had to channel all her mana to face him. If even one of her icicles wasn’t propelled with enough power, Sir Tristan would shoot her. The icicles shattered the arrows. Pieces of ice filtered through the air, dancing through the skies. “—Gh?!” Nayuki was starting to fall behind. Three arrows had snaked through her barrier of icicles, rushing toward her and breaking skin. And when that happened, the deafening shatter of glass echoed around them. “What?!” Nayuki’s body crumbled into pieces. …It wasn’t actually her. It was like a thin board had been reflecting her form. “A mirror…?! An ice mirror?!” Icy Moon Mirror. Fairy magic. Sir Tristan instantly recognized it. “HRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!” Nayuki brandished her sword, coming down on Sir Tristan from above. “Gah!” Sir Tristan threw aside his bow and reached for his sword. He looked up at her, trying to counter…and was punched by a violent blizzard. Winter Storm. The chill robbed Sir Tristan of his heat, freezing his blood and dulling his movements. “Hragh!” Without a moment’s delay, Nayuki launched a two-stage attack. She was like a bolt of lightning, flashing her swords to clear her landing. “Guh?!” Sir Tristan barely dodged, parrying with his sword. But he was sent flying. Without hesitation, he launched himself off the ground, withdrawing. Nayuki pursued him. Wind whipped around her. Every time he got close to her, his movements slowed, became more sluggish. When Nayuki saw this, she kicked off the ground, pouncing to attack with her ice sword. “Wh-what…? This is bad!” Hitoshi panicked, watching the battle from afar. “She’s driving him back… But what about my powers? I—I can’t believe that bitch! That’s impossible!” Hitoshi shrieked in frustration. “What do you think you’re doing, Sir Tristan? Hurry up and kill her!” “Don’t fret, Master Hitoshi,” Morgan advised. “The one from the Dame du Lac just looks impressive. But she has nothing on one of the three strongest knights of the Round Table.” “Nothing on him…? But look at her…!” “What don’t you understand? She used all her mana to dull his movements and freeze the ground. She’s chipping away at her life to fight. Like fireworks. Brilliant only for a moment.” “…Huh?!” “Meanwhile, Sir Tristan is only using minimal mana for his Aura… It’s so obvious who will be drained of energy first.” “R-really…?” Hitoshi couldn’t have known, since his gut was always wrong. “She might keep up temporarily… But the time will come,” Morgan assured. Fwoosh! Blood sprayed through the air, instantly freezing into red crystals, which the blizzard scattered. “Gh?!” They saw Nayuki’s sword had broken in half. Sir Tristan’s blade had grazed her right shoulder. “Damn lucky…,” Sir Tristan muttered as she jumped back. He didn’t seem interested in pursuing her. “If it weren’t for that blizzard…I would have sliced through your shoulder.” “…Gh?!” The blood drained from her face as she applied pressure to her wound. She didn’t have time to heal it with magic. All she could do was freeze her gash to stop the bleeding. “See? We’re not on the same level. Are you sure you want to continue?” “…Of course.” Sweat trickled down her forehead. Nayuki formed another ice sword. “…I know you don’t want to accept your death. Aren’t you an outsider? Why do you even care?” Sir Tristan asked. Nayuki stood straighter. “Isn’t it obvious? I have someone I want to protect! Someone I would die for! I would do anything if it meant securing his future… I don’t have the option of losing…or the luxury of backing down!” “?!” Sir Tristan gaped at her. …Eventually, he let out a pained sigh. “…I’m jealous of you… You have someone. You can continue to feel those emotions.” “Huh?” “It was impossible for me. Even when I longed for her, it didn’t reach her… Reality can be so cruel… Ah, Iseult…” Sir Tristan stared up at the heavens, reciting the name of someone who wasn’t present. He turned to Nayuki, looking at her apologetically with his knowing gaze. “…Okay. Then let’s continue.” “Sir Tristan…?” “Just remember the world is cruel. The more we want to protect someone, the more we hold them dear…the more unattainable they become. I’m sure you’ll become acquainted with despair, too. I can tell from your eyes… Mine used to look like yours.” Conversation over. Sir Tristan readied his sword. His Aura was stronger than ever. That fight must have been his preliminary round. Just to feel her out. The real battle was about to start. “Please…Rintarou…give me strength…and courage…!” Nayuki tried to remain firm, even though she knew the outcome was grim, calming her nerves before turning to Sir Tristan. She looked like she wasn’t going to miss a single attack. “…Huh?!” She realized Sir Tristan had disappeared. She couldn’t wrap her head around it. “You’re slow.” “Ah?!” Nayuki didn’t even have time to turn around. FWOOSH! A massive burst of blood stained the snow a deep crimson. The tips of the daggers zinged toward her, each one hell-bent on her demise. “Gah!” Felicia used Mana Acceleration, sprinting across the roof. The shower of blades followed in hot pursuit, trying to skewer her from behind. The daggers rammed into the wall where she’d just been like rounds fired from a machine gun, piling up on the ground like a mountain of swords. “Heh. Are you just going to keep running, Felicia Ferald?!” Reika shouted, standing on top of a water tank on the roof. Felicia was frantic, scrambling to escape. Reika raised the dagger in her right hand—the Sword of Destruction—and created another set of floating daggers. “I see you’re not cutting me any slack!” Felicia barked back. The flashing tips of daggers focused on her in pursuit. Their silver streaks broke up the night sky. With Flower Fire Dance, she managed to burn some of them. A graceful swing of her sword struck down another group of daggers as she jumped away from any remaining blades. DRRRRRRRRRRRR! The daggers drilled into the ground. “You’re a one-trick pony!” Felicia shouted, trying to provoke her. “I’ve already memorized your moves—” “Is that right?” A shiver went up Felicia’s spine. “—Gh?!” She whipped around. The buried daggers had peeled themselves out of the ground, rotating in the air until they were pointing at Felicia. Crap! Can she continue to control them even after they’re hit?! The daggers tore through the night, targeting her again, merciless. There were too many for her to evade or strike down. “Ah?!” Felicia hated that she was ready for death. She swore she could hear the dull rip of projectiles breaking skin. But…she experienced no burning pain. “…Are you all right, my liege?” Sir Gawain had used his body to shield her. “Sir Gawain?!” He was in a terrible state. The daggers had torn through his armor like butter, impaling him. Anyone would expect a fatal end based on his state. “Don’t worry about me.” Sir Gawain wiped away the blood dribbling down the corner of his mouth. “I won’t die from this.” He acted like nothing was wrong, brandishing his sword, Galatine, and shattering the storming daggers into pieces. Their particles vanished into a mist of mana. “I bet these daggers will operate until they hit flesh…because this Excalibur is the embodiment of King Arthur’s order.” The daggers had become quiet after they pierced him. He looked down at them. “Hmm? I’m impressed you saw through it,” commended Reika from the water tank. “You’re so persistent. I can’t believe you can still stand even after you’ve been speared… I wouldn’t expect anything less from the brawniest knight of the Round Table. I don’t think the strongest three would have fared well.”