Chapter 40
Intermission Chapter: Yuketsu no Ichizoku
Intermittent short breaths shook the serene air flowing in this place .
[Haaa— haa… haa… haa—]
A very dense forest .
Avoiding the major paths, I continued to run .
The sound of twigs breaking .
This could be a troublesome signal if I was trying to avoid the conspicuous roads in the forest .
But I don’t care even if they heard me .
I shake away the branches on my path .
However, I also made sure that I don’t break more than three pieces .
Does the thinness of my body help with dodging the branches on my path?
I’m making sure that I don’t step on any twigs on my path .
It’s really quiet, but I certainly am running fast .
It’s as if my body is clad in wind .
[—–hm?]
I promptly slowed down my sprint .
(Their presence disappeared…?)
The speed of the trackers must have slowed down .
I must have lost them… is not something I’d think about in this situation .
I don’t think that they would give up so easily .
At that time, I became really bewildered .
Should I fight here or not?
I turned around while I placed my back against the trunk of a tree .
A stance against ambushes .
The pursuers were from— “Yuketsu no Ichizoku” (T/N: Heroic Blood Clan)
They are the descendants of the “Different World Heroes” who had once saved the world .
Some heroes that came from different worlds had children on this continent .
The person who had inherited the blood of Heroes were said to have exceptional physical abilities and talents compared to the ordinary people .
However, I heard they can’t reach the levels of those Heroes who had fought against all evils and grew through multiple battles .
However, comparing them to their ancestors is a story for another time .
It doesn’t change the fact that they’re not an easy opponent who I can easily win against .
I heard that all of the surrounding countries had some families with heroic blood flowing through them .
They are important forces for those countries that weren’t able to summon Heroes .
My troubles are still here though .
I could definitely fight back if it’s just against one opponent .
However, it will be difficult if I were to face four people at the same time .
Fatigue had slowly acc.u.mulating in my body as I exhaled out a small sigh .
(Apparently, it’s impossible to shake them off— should I use it or not?)
“Spiritual Garment” (T/N: Sei-shiki Reisou)
I decided to get ready for the inevitable .
There is no guarantee that I’d win .
But, I would need to cut them off if I want to escape .
If I can’t escape from them, I should fight them while I still can .
I called out the spirit residing within me .
(I, Seras Ashrain call upon a spiritual garment… I sacrifice my peaceful sleep and offer it to you to form a contract—)
Keeping the spirits’ name in my mind, I speak out the rest of the contract .
(Sylfizea, Ferryl Banger, Will Ozega…)
(T/N: These names might change depending on when they ever appear on the manga . I would sync it to that translation . )
Wind Spirit, Ice Spirit, Light Spirit
Three stripes of colors wrapped around my, Seras’ body .
A combination light green, bluish and white lines .
When the light have started to disappear, I can see myself wearing armor and some other equipment .
These armor and equipment are things I have never worn before .
These were manifested by the power of the spirits .
Formally named, Spiritual Garment .
My appearance looks like I’m the Female Knight of the Light who had appeared in the legends .
My appearance looks like how she was evaluated nowadays .
I unsheathe the sword that’s hanging on my waist .
—-p.i.s.shhiii, pikki—-
The blade of the sword is reinforced by ice .
Blue snowflakes are appearing around the blade as they improve the efficiency of my sword .
Kashha…
An equipment was also slipped on my head and covered my head down to my eyebrows .
The sliding part also hides where I’m looking at .
Spiritual Garment, Final Form .
Of course, my sight is also blocked by the cover in front of my eyes .
But, there’s nothing wrong with it .
The wind informs me of everything that’s around .
My nerves may become overloaded, but my senses were definitely sharpened .
However, compared to my sense of sight, I could easily catch the presence of the enemies’ movements .
I could also antic.i.p.ate their movements easier too .
I put my ears against the earth .
(The successors of the Heroic Blood’s four-person group of bounty hunters “White Walker”… To think I’d catch the attention of those four… I’ve been really negligent…)
The so-called “Kiba”— Zalash Finebird (T/N: Fang)
The so-called “Kisou Tengai” — Asura (T/N: Demonic Heavenly Body)
The so-called “Geki Atsu” — Jaybin Sengai (T/N: Extreme Pressure)
The so-called “Kenshin” — Magatsu Bradinus (T/N: Sword G.o.d)
I sat upright as I move away my ears away from the ground .
Is it because I’ve been running for too long?
Fatigue has acc.u.mulated on my brain and body .
I closed my eyes that are hidden inside the hood .
(Athough no one knows of their names in the mercenary circle, I have heard of a remarkable and yet atrocious four-man group… It seems that I have never heard of any good rumors at all…)
I’ve fought with them multiple times until here .
They’re certainly strong .
However, I don’t think they’ve seriously attacked me yet .
It’s as if they were probably trying to measure my ability .
However— they have soon started to gradually attack seriously .
That’s why I’m prepared to fight them right here as I’m reinforced by my determination .
(I can’t let them catch me . )
I prepared for them as I grasped the handle of my sword tightly with both of my hands .
(Right in this place, I’ll defeat them!)
I waited for any signs of movement .
I’m also making sure that I have sharpened my senses, so that I could see through any kind of movements nearby .
[………]
A single drop of sweat stained my white cheek as it flow along my skin .
It has been quite an amount of time since I’ve been in this state .
(Are they still not moving yet…? No… They’re probably waiting for something—)
—zokkkkuuu—
As if I was pierced by my sword enchanted with ice, I could a chill pierce through my spines .
Are they finally going to start getting serious?
Our game of tag had come to an end huh .
The playtime is over .
Is this when it really starts?
The time for the real hunt .
And— I unintentionally released one of my hands from the handle of my sword .
This is because I have this strange feeling of discomfort somewhere on my throat .
I put my hand over my mouth .
(What… What is this?)
I feel like something wrong will happen .
It’s like I’m a.s.saulted by a sudden urge to vomit .
I feel shaky .
Everything in my sight looks intensely irregular .
I don’t even know if the White Walker became stronger or weaker as time had pa.s.sed .
As my recognition of the situation became clearer, I can’t help but be agitated .
I don’t know how strong my opponents are .
I can’t even a.n.a.lyze their strength correctly .
I have made a foolish decisions, huh .
To think that I had thought that I could fight against these strange enemies…
Can I even fight back against weird enemies like these?
Heroic Blood Clan .
Was it imprudent of me to attempt to fight against an enemy who carries the legendary blood?
Should I have ran away at that time?
Gasaaa… .
I quickly reacted upon the sudden sounds I heard .
Holding the blade enchanted with ice, I charged towards the direction of the sounds .
(…no . . oh no!?)
The sounds I heard just now was just a trick .
On the thicket diagonally behind my back— I felt a presence .
[]
(–eh?)
Who the heck is this?
He… doesn’t look like he’s from the White Walker .
I can’t feel any “strength” coming out of him at all .
But, it’s strange .
Something’s unusual .
He doesn’t look as strong as those four .
Yes…
He’s not stronger than them at all .
And yet— the spirits were frightened of him .
Furthermore,
(It’s as if his presence… It’s as if they’re from a monster…?)
One more thing that’s suspicious was, I can’t feel any hostility from him at all .
It’s as if his harmful thoughts are so thin .
Most of all…
(My body… can’t move…? Why…!?)
[I felt your intent to attack me— Well, thanks to your killing intent, though I also felt some impurities on your killing intent mixed in . Anyway, that’s beyond the point . ]
A man’s voice .
What in the world is he saying?
(There are impurities on my killing intent…?)
[I felt that there’s something different from the four-person group I had met earlier, so I guess I’ll talk to you for a bit . Though I said that, I’ll keep your movement sealed just in case . ]
After a bit of a struggle, I can finally say something .
[What… do… you… want…?]
[If I were to put it simply, I feel like I lost my way . If you’re knowledgeable about this place, tell me where the nearest town or village is . I’m not a local of this place . It’s also because of it that I don’t know those things that you’d usually call common knowledge . That’s why I want you to tell me everything I needto know about this place—]
For a moment, my thoughts came to a halt .
(There’s no signs of falsehood at all…?)
With the help of the spirit of the wind, I am able to determine whether someone tells the “truth” or not .
From the impressions of the spirits, I’ve also understood that the accuracy of this judgement was high .
(Is he really… just a lost person? Moreover…)
There’s one big question that had been bugging me .
He just mentioned earlier of a “four-person group that he had met earlier” .
(Did I hear it correctly—?)
The presence of those four people has disappeared .
What exactly happened to the White Walker?