Seiken Tsukai no Kinju Eishou

Late at night――

Moroha walked on the Zolotoy Most.*

*TN: Zolotoy Most is the furigana reading for “Golden Bridge” and the roman version for золотой мост.

This was one of the world’s largest cable-stayed bridges in the world, it crossed over the Bukhta Zolotoy Rog to the heart of Vladivostok.*

*TN: Bukhta Zolotoy Rog is the furigana reading for “Golden Horn Bay” and the roman version for Бухта Золотой Рог.

The four pillars that supported the bridge were long and large, and their tops completely blended into the darkness, they were out of sight.

He walked on the bridge as he looked up aimlessly, thinking: Why is that I can’t see them?

It was a dark night.

Thin clouds covered the sky, neither the moon nor the stars were in sight.

Moroha marched alone in the middle of the road where 4 cars could travel alongside.

He left AJ at the hotel.

He didn’t want the British Division――or anyone else to be involved in the battle that was about to start.

And then.

When he reached the middle of the bridge, he saw the lights of a car in the opposite direction.

The flashlights cut through the darkness, and the silhouette of a Mitsubishi Pajero appeared.

A single vehicle in the streets of the asleep Vladivostok strummed its low frequency engine as it dashed on the bridge.

(Is that…?)

Moroha drew prana from the gate that lead to G.o.d, in other words, from the glabella.

When he put the prana in his eyes, he was able to clearly see the top of the pillars that were blended into the darkness.

The moon and the stars beyond the thin clouds were visible too.

A basic Light Technique that amplified eyesight, Clairvoyance.

Moroha identified the license plate of the car that was still far ahead.

(Yeah, that’s the one. It’s all thanks to the intelligence agency of the British Division)

AJ had said that it was difficult to gather information about other Saviors, but this was enough.

The target was confirmed.

Moroha stood up without fear in front of the Pajero that was getting closer and that gave the impression it was exceeding the speed limit.

*TN: Pajero is the furigana reading for “heavyweight vehicle”.

He ignored it, even when the car horn resounded.

He was drawing prana not only from the glabella, but also from the remaining 6 gates.

The dazzling-looking white light blew upwards like a flame from his imposing body.

Yes, a flame. The prominence worn by a star.

And――extreme flames similar to Sirius.

*TN: Sirius is the furigana reading for “first magnitude star”.

Moroha, who reigned over the long and large bridge, and who stood out in the heavy darkness, displayed a presence as if he were a white star that came down to the ground.

The Pajero――stepped on the brakes immediately.

He must have known that Moroha, who blocked his path, was a Shirogane and that he was certainly not going to let him pa.s.s. He stopped at a distance of no more than 10 meters. There was only one person inside.

The door of the driver’s seat was opened, a figure like it stabbed the skies appeared imposingly.

A tremendously giant man of more than 2 meters tall.

He comfortably placed his armpit on the roof of the large 4WD Pajero and looked down on him as if he appraised him while rubbing the installed surfboard.

– You’re new around here, huh? And you’re not one of us, are you? Where’s the guy of the branch?

He questioned him in English. In a proud and deep voice. His tone was civil but his arrogance was and wasn’t there.

– I came from j.a.pan. I was waiting for you.

Moroha responded in a Natural Stance full of composure. Then, he asked.

– Are you the branch office director of Vladivostok?

– Yes, I am!

The giant man looked up at the sky and gave his name as if singing with a majestic baritone.

– I’m Bernard Sergeivich Ignasevich! My strength is divine! My beauty as well! More amazing than anything you can imagine! I’m the protector of Vladivostok, the entrance door and the key point of Far East Russia for Her Majesty Lightning Empress! I’m the first manservant of Her Majesty!

He recited enraptured and with an entranced look.

It wasn’t like he obeyed Vasilisa because he was afraid of her, rather, what he said was transmitted from his innermost thoughts.

That pretty much gave him a bad feeling.

– So? Now that you ask me that, may I hear what your name is?

– It’s Haimura Moroha.

He replied without hiding anything as he took out his ID Tag from his breast pocket.

So he could manifest his weapon at any time, but he wasn’t going to show it to his opponent.

– j.a.pan’s… Haimura…. I see. You’re.

Bernard said those words as if he digested them and then he muttered a few words,

– Fufu, what business does the Ancient Dragon have with me?

He extended both arms like he welcomed him.

– I have something I want to ask.

– Oh, what is it? What words can I offer you that can satisfy you?

– I want to know Lightning Empress’s whereabouts.

– Her Highness Lightning Empress! Please call her as such.

– … where’s Raitei-heika?

*TN: He pretty much says Her Highness Lightning Empress but in hiragana.

– Fufu, why are you asking so to this me above all else? I don’t feel bad about betraying other comrades, but why would I say a word about Her Highness’s privacy? Go and pick another guy.

– If you aren’t going to tell me――then don’t blame me for using all my strength, alright?

Moroha shrugged his shoulders and said those dangerous words reluctantly.

The threatened Bernard,

– In that case, you can test my loyalty. If you truly are worthy of being an S-Rank, then this should be easy, no?

He demounted the surfboard installed on the roof of the vehicle as he acted with composure.

No, a completely different thing came out from the opened cover.

Its shape and size were exactly like the one of a surfboard, but it was made of a hard-looking gla.s.s with two handles in the middle of the reverse side. Bernard held it vertically with both hands, his giant build was completely in the shade of it (Since the material is transparent, we see each other’s figure perfectly).

It was very clear when he saw that construction――

It was an unusually large and modern shield.

(It’s exactly as Angelsan was saying, the guys of the Russian Division don’t use ID Tags)

According to her, she didn’t know when their relationship with the American Division deteriorated and when the supplies stopped, but she knew that they were ordered by Lightning Empress to never fight relying on ID Tags.

The exceptions where those who could manifest extraordinary The Origin like Leshya.

What a brutal way of thinking, or rather, wasn’t it too bad to a.s.sume that there were conflicts even within the White Knight Organization…?

He practically understood so with what was before his eyes.

And, because such way of thinking and a.s.sumptions were made all the time, the sudden attack of Moroha wasn’t affected by them at all.

(Now I see, so this is Russia…)

*TN: Russia is the furigana reading for the “worst and most atrocious”.

Moroha nodded as he squeezed the ID Tag in his right palm.

He poured prana together with a strong image into it,

– Come… Saratiga.

The name of the dear sword he wielded in his previous life was gently called.

A flash of light surged in his palm and changed its color as if it were a red-hot metal plate that stretched like a candy.

It formed a handle that fit well his hand, it formed a refined pommel and finally it formed a one-edged blade.

A brusque iron sword that still didn’t reach the beautiful and real thing that resembled a mirror.

He used G.o.dlike Movement and travelled the distance between him and his opponent in three steps and dispatched the sword diagonally from overhead.

That sword blade shone as it wore Moroha’s prana.

Ancestral Arts Light Technique Venus.

A simple and powerful technique that increased the destructive power of weapons. He had the intention of trying it out, but adjustments weren’t needed at all.

If he were a C–Rank Savior, then he could cut him down with a single slash――*

*TN: C-Rank is the furigana reading for “normal”.

– Fufu, what an impressive swordsmanship. It’s precise and fast.

Bernard admired him with his mouth as he easily stopped the blow with his gla.s.s shield clad in a dazzling orange light.

It wasn’t like he stood firm on both feet or that he gritted his teeth, the giant shield was just gently held.

However, it was like an endless wall.

He was unperturbed even if a slash was driven into it. On the contrary, the shock of the impact returned as it was, it seemed that Moroha’s wrist became dull.

– You’re tougher than I thought.

Moroha attacked two, three times with his sword as he complained.

However, all of them ended up being repelled by the shield that stood as if it was planted in the ground.

The Venus of Moroha and the certain established reputation it had in regard to its power were useless against it.

He couldn’t even make small cuts on the surface.

As if it were contrary to the principle of「Offensive is easy, defense is difficult」….

– Have you finished already? You didn’t make my loyalty waver with something of that degree, did you?

Bernard counterattacked as he let those thoughts return.

He immediately raised the readied giant shield overhead and slammed it against the ground as a blunt weapon.

It was a heroic swing. A coiling whirlwind approached from far above.

What on earth was that way of using a shield!? ――If Moroha had petrified, he probably would have been crushed.

– That’s how it seems to be.

Moroha stepped back greatly and escaped from the attack range of the long and large shield. He had no intention of trying to catch it with the sword.

The prana that dwelled in the gla.s.s shield pulled in the orange light traces in the dark.

Moroha understood with just a glance that an extraordinary power was hidden in that brilliance.

The absurd gla.s.s shield hit hard the road and drilled a large hole in it, the impact of that was transmitted to the feet of Moroha.  If he had caught it, he certainly would have been crushed.

Fine particles of asphalt danced in the air, the surroundings were thinly hazy.

Bernard, at the back of it, calmly recovered the shield to the position it had before.

And expressed a smile at the other side of the gla.s.s.

– Fufu. You avoid it well, didn’t you? Did you realize that this is shield is a specialized weapon for offense and defense?

An endless wall when it wasn’t moved.

And a battering ram when it was moved.

That was the unusual shield that Bernard had.

– It’s all about the coloring of the prana, isn’t it? You were struck by my sword, however, it wasn’t like you had an unknown defensive Light Technique, but rather it was a normal Venus all along. Since you’re using Venus, then I can say that you’re using it in place of a weapon. Right?

– I give up. You’re correct.

Bernard smiled with a not-at-all undefeated look.

「Offense is easy, defense is difficult」――that principle repeated over and over.

It was difficult to defend against High Durability that raised the hardness of the body and Venus that enhanced the destructive power of weapons.

Avoiding them was usually the answer.

Or「An eye for an eye, a blade for a blade」, this was the Jutsuri of the Shiroganeto handle and catch weapons with weapons and that also made use of Venus.*

*TN: Jutsuri can be translated as theory though it literally means principle of technique.

Bernard did the latter after all.

He was satisfied with the destructive prana of the shield that had just exchanged blows directly with Moroha’s destructive prana.

But,

– You’re a person who thinks about interesting things.

Moroha unusually praised him.

It was impossible for him to not be proud of quite a power that made the prana spread throughout a long and large shield like that, and that also made sure to not make parts with low density.

When taking into account that the swing speed of not long ago――could be matched――and easily avoided by Moroha, then perhaps he was the type of Shirogane that excelled at power but fell behind in speed. And Bernard.

To make use of his strong points, and to compensate for his weak points, he worked out a style to reinforce his defense with excessive power. As he used such a large shield like that, there was no need「To avoid」even if his speed fell behind.

Bernard returned the praise with a smile, feeling calm.

– You sure are unique. “It’s all about the coloring of the prana”… huh? You said something strange. But in fact, this is the first time that someone has been able to see through my style so easily.

– Is that so? But thanks to that, I was unexpectedly enlightened. A senpai of mine is a Shirogane of the same type as you, so I should use you as a reference and recommend you to them next time.

– Fufu, that’s a problem. If I end up strengthening other branches, it would be unforgivable for Her Highness Lightning Empress.

– If that’s the case, then why don’t you relax a bit and come here from there?

– Why? It’s definite not a problem for me if I amuse myself chatting with you until the bridge is full of cars in the morning, you know?

Bernard never tried to voluntarily pull down his defensive stance.

Not because he was cowardly.

But because he looked down on him and made fun of him. I can’t behave like that and have civilians dragged into this by Moroha.

Bernard had a faint smile on his face ever since the battle began. He had a blessed stature and he had been looking at him with his superior gaze.

(He has been treating me with contempt from the very beginning, this doesn’t look at all like a talk to the level of a war)

Moroha scratched his head and charged to wrench the tortoise sh.e.l.l open.

He ran straight and a.s.saulted him with his sword head-on――he feigned so and attempted to take a roundabout path from the right.

It was a feint to detour the shield and attack him from his flank.

But it wasn’t just a faint.

From fake slashes to horizontal steps, the change of pace that used G.o.dlike Movement even produced afterimages.

Ancestral Arts Light Technique Giant Gate.

*TN: The kanji for Giant Gate is 巨門 and it’s read as “komon”.

The plan of Moroha tried to disturb the immovable Bernard by footwork.

However! The vanguard of the huge shield immediately appeared before the eyes of Moroha and blocked his path.

Bernard forestalled him and laid the shield diagonally.

– Too slow.

He added an extra that made him even smile wryly.

This reaction that saw through Moroha’s feint.  This response that immediately killed his enthusiasm.

A proof that he was skilled in fighting with a large shield.  A troublesome user with a troublesome shield.

As expected of an Rank of the Russian “Empire”.

– Everyone thinks that when they fight me. Or perhaps I should say that if “Iron Wall” is broken to that extent, then I’m just not exceptional to be among the tough guys and it is impossible that I can be recognized by Her Highness Lightning Empress. And with that, be entrusted with Vladivostok.

The words of Bernard gave him the impression that he had a long military service.

The pride when he won through the fierce Russian compet.i.tion, and the self-esteem when he received the favor of Lightning Empress and made him have a smile in his whole face; he took a solid stance with the lying shield and struck with a horizontal swing.

Even though the reasoning of ordinary people didn’t apply to Shirogane, the reach it had was abnormal for a blunt weapon, it was way too wide. He had no choice but to jump backwards in a big way to escape from its killing and wounding range.

And Moroha, who was caused to step back again,

– Should we start over?

Faced Bernard who had even the leeway to say a joke,

– You serious!?

And answered with a fearless smile instead.

As it was pointed out earlier, this battle was a challenge coming from Moroha.

That provoked him when he received it.

If this was called “to be tired of looking at that move”, then he was going to use a move that he hadn’t seen yet.

– Write――

He started a spell used for extension of time and made a jump to the back during that.

– Fufu, do you think that a Dark Art can smash this shield?

– I know it can’t. I know I can’t destroy such composure of yours. But look――

A 3rd rank Dark Art of the triumphant flames, Incinerate, was completed.

However, he didn’t attack directly with it, he made it dwell in the sword instead. Only Moroha could use it; a Jutsuri that only Moroha had.

Ancestral Arts Yin Yang.

Moroha, who made the sword clad in deep red flames, charged three times.

And expressed his absolute confidence in a smile.

– I don’t want you to look down on me. My iron wall was deemed acceptable by Her Highness Lightning Empress. Therefore, my shield has to be st.u.r.dy and indestructible. My loyalty is not going to betray Her Majesty’s trust.

– Will it break or it won’t break? I won’t know unless I give it a try, don’t you think?

Moroha raised the sword overhead in a haughty att.i.tude as he charged.

He combined the power of the Light Technique Venus and the Dark Art Flames and attempted to pulverize the gla.s.s giant shield from the front――or so he pretended to do, he struck his dear sword against the asphalt just before he came close to Bernard.

The sound of an explosion and burst of flames exploded violently, fine particles of asphalt were spouted like volcanic ashes.

The majority of his field of vision was filled with dust and not with darkness.

– Fufu, isn’t this smokescreen a bit too thick?

He heard Bernard’s laughter inside the thick smoke.

At the same time, a gust of wind blew fiercely.

Bernard fanned the wind with his shield and released it, using prana.

That was a further application of the high rank Light Technique Jupiter. He let his power scatter and created a windstorm that shone in every direction.

It wasn’t for attacking, but to blow away without reserve the veil of fine particles the atmosphere was filled with.

His visibility was cleared up with a single blow. And the battlefield on the bridge.

Bernard was still standing imposingly like a mountain,

– I shall correct myself. You truly are unique.

He praised him as he looked around with a condescending att.i.tude.

Six Moroha were surrounding Bernard.

A sudden mysterious phenomenon, but,

– If I remember correctly, did I say Phantasm Image?

Bernard, who had experienced many battles, saw through his lies without panicking and without losing his cool.

Moroha didn’t reply, but that was correct.

Of the six Moroha, only one was real, of course. The rest were optical 3D images created by a Dark Art.

The six of them attacked from six directions all at once.

The movements of the six Moroha were perfectly synchronized, their siege formation didn’t crumble yet.

He used G.o.dlike Movement so as to not give him time to see which one was real.

While it was called Bernard’s Iron Wall, he couldn’t be able to protect himself from all six directions.

If he didn’t spot who the real one was, being cut from a blind spot of the shield was inevitable.

If increasing the power by combining Light Technique Attacks and Dark Arts Attacks was a work of Yin Yang’s「Hardness」――

Then this was Yin Yang’s「Softness」.

It took less than 3 seconds until the six Moroha flooded him after the mist of asphalt cleared up.

That just barely gave Bernard an instant.

The six Moroha, who were at “one step and one stroke distance”, held aloft the swords in the exact same form. As was expected, Bernard stood stock still in that place――*

TN*: – The one behind me doesn’t have his footsteps completely erased.

――No, since he attracted Moroha satisfactorily, he turned around.

As he did a full swing of his long and large shield*.

*TN: Shield is the furigana reading for blunt weapon.

His giant body appeared like it semi-rotated dynamically, it was just like a tornado.

Bernard’s insight was correct.

Among the six Moroha who sprung at him from the six directions, the real Moroha approached from behind.

The eyes of Moroha, who swung the sword downward,

– This was my first time seeing such an interesting move. However, that’s all there is to it.

And the eyes of Bernard, that were full of composure, intersected his own eyes.

And then, the sword of Moroha, rather than slashing at him,

– Fufu, the crafty schemer drowned in his own scheme? You’re way too ingenious, and that is a problem.

The shield of Bernard struck the defenseless torso of Moroha, it was evidently faster than him.

The power fighter released a blow with all his might to ascertain victory.

There was no way he could defend against it with High Durability.

His ribs were demolished, his internal organs were flattened――or so he feigned, the real Moroha had jumped up long ago.

Yes, Bernard’s shield had hit an afterimage done by Giant Gate!

– That was close.

The airborne Moroha raised a voice of joy.

He thought that Bernard, that this real strong man, would notice that.

That the subtle sound of footsteps were done by Moroha on purpose.

When he read Moroha’s strategy, he thought of attacking him full of confidence to outsmart him.

But Moroha just outsmarted him again.

– d.a.m.n…

The eyes of Bernard seemed to distort in astonishment for the first time.

His eyes were wide open, he was trembling.

His composed behavior was completely blown away somewhere else, his faint smile disappeared.

After he tried too hard to swing completely the shield with all his strength as he turned around, his posture collapsed completely, it didn’t matter how much of an iron-wall warrior he was, his defensive stance was expected to die right away.

Moroha could win just by slashing at him with the sword that was already raised overhead as if it were to come down.

He could get a complete victory against a tough Rank who had a unique style, and resulted unharmed even though he had a hard time.

However, he wasn’t self-conceited or confident like Bernard.

Because there was that. But when he was able to notice「that」.

A third person, an intruder appeared from somewhere and came running with great speed and vigor …

– Haimura, the enemy is going to attaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!

The intruder jumped at Bernard.

And made eye contact with Moroha who also jumped in the same way.

– Hey…

As one would expect, the exchange of glances left Moroha dumbfounded.

The true ident.i.ty of the intruder who raised a loud voice was――AJ.

He requested her to stay at the hotel, but she probably followed him stealthily.

It was fine if she was watching attentively in silence, but it seemed that she appeared without minding anything.

Perhaps Bernard wasn’t the only one caught by Moroha’s Giant Gate.

Moroha, who put himself in the trajectory of the slash, managed to put a stop to it with his right arm, but,

(This is bad…)

He quickly understood the situation and clenched his teeth.

It was impossible to not collide with AJ in that instant, even if the one in the middle of the jump was the Ancient Dragon.

At least he gently held her in his left arm.

He was slightly late,

– I’m sorry, but there’s no room to show mercy here!

Bernard, who recovered his stance, did a full swing, and Moroha protected her from the big shield.

A strong impact hit Moroha’s back.

– Guh… uh….

Agony escaped from the s.p.a.ce of the clenched teeth.

He concentrated defensive prana on his back, and with the application of High Durability, there were no fatal wounds.

However, Bernard’s superhuman strength was unusual, he was blown off into the sky while he held AJ.

As he wasn’t able to move properly due to the impact and the inertia, they easily surpa.s.sed a third of the height of the pillars of the bridge, which were over 100 meters tall.

– I-I’m sorry! You ended up suffering damage…

AJ recovered from the stupor and apologized with a crying-looking face.

– I’m… I’m fine. Please look.

Moroha pretended to be tough.

He felt that the momentum that made him fly in the sky weakened, that the inertia disappeared and that his body was pulled by gravity.

Moroha finally could change the direction of his body and looked far down below.

Bernard was glaring at him with a face that had lost its calm.

At this rate, Moroha, who was in free fall, was going to be hit again by the guy lying in wait as he wasn’t going to be able to evade it in the air.

There was nothing else that could be done?

No, this positional relationship was Moroha’s unrivaled dominion.

It was impossible for the power fighter Bernard to chase him to this height. He had no way to make use of this situation.

He set his mind on a plan.

(The problem is, can I do it without preparation? … No, I’ll do it)

Moroha threw the sword high in the sky.

He held AJ in his free right arm and freed his left hand.

Something like a wall, like the one at the back of his brain, gave off sparks.

As if someone at the back of it agreed with Moroha’s plan and applauded him.

Moroha closed his eyes all of a sudden.

(This is my declaration of war. The beacon that reveals the start of the battle)

When he observed carefully, determination dwelled in both eyes.

He took a deep breath and breathed out.

– Write――

Dance, dance, spear of the G.o.d of Thunder

Cause thunderclaps, hundreds of thunderclaps

No one lives eternally in this world, crave for moments, instants and pleasures

Abandon everything in the blink of an eye

Those who are late, don’t call for repentance, tonight is the banquet of slaughter

End, end, end, end

End and dissolve life and everything, the liberation of the soul is not easy

Share with everyone this easiness, this throb, this freedom, this happiness

The cold wind blew fiercely, it intensified on the bridge far away.

The voice of Moroha resounded sonorously in the night sky.

He had put into written form a long and complex spell that amounted to 8 lines.

While that was the case for Moroha, it was a great magic that couldn’t be used easily.

Difficult-to-understand sequences and extreme concentration were required, just like a simple ritual.

Bernard noticed that――he was in panic.

His face went beyond amazement, it was finally smeared with cold sweat.

– Stop…

Bernard groaned far away below him.

Moroha couldn’t hear him. The distance and the strong winds that blew in the sky got in between.

– Stop it, don’t chant it! Don’t write another line!

Bernard gave up far away below him.

– Do you get it…? That’s the holy sacred The Origin Her Majesty Lighting Empress… Her Majesty is the only one who can perform it! n.o.body, no one else can use it, not even that French witch… no, you must not use it!

The courageous man who didn’t lose his composure even when he suffered damage, stamped his feet, raising h.e.l.l.

– Stop! I beg you! Stop for heaven’s sake! Don’t violate the divinity of Her Majesty!

How much was he going to cry and shout?

How much was he going to supplicate?

Those things didn’t reach Moroha’s ears.

He looked down from the firmament to Bernard who looked like he had a minuscule body from there――

And he ruthlessly finished spelling the end mark character.

And then, it was completed.

Intense lights flashed.

Lights that were like the midnight sun and burned what was around Moroha manifested.

Those were, figuratively speaking, lightning spears.

More than a hundred arms of the heavenly G.o.ds.

They circled around Moroha, they were loaded like gun cylinders.

All the lightning tips were turned towards Bernard.

And then, they were released together with thunderclaps.

The first one fell on the ground at a high speed, the second one fell moments after the first one, and the third one fell… one hundred thunderclaps fell following a sequence.

From the point of view of Bernard who looked up, the countless light spears looked like they were attacking him in a spiral-shaped battle formation.

– HURRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH

*TN: The first part of the scream was a furigana reading for “Glory to Her Highness Lightning Empress”.

He prayed and raised a roar as if he implored and protected himself with the shield.

He made the gla.s.s shield shine in a dazzling orange light.

But――that light looked quite pitiful compared to the sparkle of a hundred thunderclaps that were very strong. The purple lightning spears. .h.i.t Bernard.

And hit him.

And hit him.

8th Rank Dark Art of Lightning Lightning Helix.

Flash of lights burst one by one on the bridge, scattering a sweltering heat; the thunderous roars that felt as if they deafened his ears exploded intermittently.

After all the lightning fell to the ground――Moroha landed gracefully with AJ still being embraced with one hand.

And caught his dear sword that fell a few seconds later.

The offensive smell and the stinking of ozone due to the asphalt that was burning and melting attacked his nasal cavity.

A huge crater was gouged in the road that was showered with one hundred thunderclaps.

At the center of that, the fallen Bernard and the smashed up gla.s.s shield lay down miserably.

– Hey. Did you kill him…?

He let AJ stand gently and then she asked nervously.

– You serious? If so, then how am I going to listen to what he has to say?

Moroha kneeled down on one knee next to Bernard and confirmed just to be sure.

He was burned to a practically and virtually dead state.

He believed that this tough Shirogane would withstand it.

– With what you’ve done so far, you, who think who can listen to what he has to say, are scary.

AJ shrieked while shifting her attention to him as if she was looking a monster.

How rude, Moroha squinted his eyes and protested in silence.

– Seriously though…. I once again fully realized your fierceness. This guy, Bernard, he definitely could be affixed as a top ace of any branch, no? While he’s no match for my lord, he would be a reliable man if he stood as the head of an army in the fight against the metaphysical. But when it comes to you, you just completely defeated him in a calm att.i.tude…. You monster.

– Huh…? But the one who had a calm att.i.tude was this person, no?

– … where’s your self-awareness, Haimura? You laughed like a rascal throughout the battle. At the end, I’m sure you had a smile on your whole face, you know?

Moroha received a shock, and together with that, he succ.u.mbed to the impulse of wanting to check what expression he had and touched his cheeks as if slapping them.

They were already stiffened by the shock, there was no evidence remaining of how they were during the battle.

No――

Certainly my consciousness wasn’t fighting while having desperate thoughts, but… I had the feeling that I had quite a hard time, and while I thought “Rank Russians are a great deal as expected, aren’t they?”, did I completely look like that from his side? Huh? For real?

– I’m not condemning you or anything, alright? When you fight strong enemies, you get excited, don’t you? You enjoy it, and even your cheeks become less tense, yes? That’s the same for me. I totally understand you.

– I don’t want to agree with that reasoning…

– Wha…, e-even though we finally think alike… you’re not cute. Humph.

– But I disagree…

So I’m lying? AJ said.

Moroha began to selfishly object her as he trembled.

– B-but, if I really looked like that, then isn’t strange that Angelsan came running? Watching me attentively while feeling relieved should have been enough, right?

– It’s the opposite, you idiot. It’s precisely because I saw that the moment you were hit by Bernard――*ahem*, the moment when it looked like you were hit by him, that I panicked and came in no time. So no, it’s not strange.

– Ugh….

Moroha, who was cut in two with a single stroke, held his tongue.

And ended up putting a terribly sullen face.

He was staring at the face of no-more-than-spectator AJ while grinning.

He was annoyed by her.

So he dropped his sullen face and,

– I once again keenly felt the kindness of Angelsan.

He said, having a nonchalant face.

The model that floated in his brain was Shizuno.

– Ah…?

He was threatened by AJ but continued as if nothing happened.

– Because that’s how it is, isn’t it? Even though Angelsan says that she hates me here and hates me there, when things got difficult, she came running to me. I truly got that when she said『The enemy is going to attack』to me.

– This brat…

Angela squared her shoulders, clasped her fists and made her whole body tremble.

She blushed from the nape of her neck to her forehead like a red liquid was poured into a graduated cylinder.

Rather than anger, it was probably because of the shyness that she was exposed to these embarra.s.sing lines of his.

And to such AJ,

– Angelsan isn’t good at showing affection, is she?

Moroha finished her off with a sweet smile.

And she retaliated.

– Forget about it, right noooooooooooooow!

A tightly clenched fist of AJ flew all of a sudden.

Moroha bent a knee and dodged it by bending his upper body to the back nimbly.

– Don’t avoid it!

– Don’t ask for the impossible please.

– I’ll absolutely won’t forget this very day!

– Ahaha, isn’t today the first time you’ve faced me as you are?

– Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!

AJ performed a knifehand strike like she mowed him down horizontally with a furious facial expression.

Moroha dodged it by bending his upper body once again.

However――he heard a small cutting sound.

A part of Moroha’s bangs fell gently.

– Wh-wh-what did you do just now?

This obviously left him stunned.

– It was Keikoku. Be grateful.

AJ, who stopped violence and felt a bit relieved with the look of the amazed Moroha, glared at him as she folded her arms.

By the way, Keikoku was a super-high rank technique that transformed one’s prana into one’s source shape.*

*TN: Shape is the furigana reading for phenomenon.

Apparently AJ’s source was a sharp edged tool.

Onee-san was about to lose her temper.

– Next time, I’ll cut your neck.

– What a scary person you are…

Moroha shrugged his shoulders as he thought I better not make her angry anymore.

Though it was such a light thought he forgot about it right away.

– I’ll forgive you if you reflect on it. Let’s get out of here fast. The cold on the bridge is――*achoo*.

AJ, who gave orders as she trembled with her arms folded, sneezed opportunely.

(Oh, that was a cute sneeze…)

If he were to blurt that out, his carotid artery would likely be cut, so he consented with「Shall we move?」

He stood up and lifted up the giant body of Bernard with his shoulder.

Then, AJ also shouldered the other side very naturally.

Moroha made his eyes blink in surprise.

– What?

AJ asked bluntly while her cheeks were still red.

Around 10 teasing words immediately came to Moroha’s mind, but.

– I appreciate it. And thank you again for coming.

Those were the words that spontaneously rushed out from his mouth.