Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Karognar's Spring
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With a single step, the buildings in the city began to crumble.
"What in the world..."
"The world is vast, my retainers."
Duke blocked the axe blade of his astonished retainer with the back of his hand, then swung his greatsword with as little killing intent as possible.
"Eek!"
He had gone easy on them, but the strike still sent chills down their spines.
'Why? Why is this happening?!!'
The retainers were bewildered.
They understood they had to fight hard with so many eyes watching.
But did they really need to go this far?
Of course, such sentiments from his retainers didn't reach Duke at all.
'A clash of convictions! A situation that swells the chest with grandeur!'
To the romance-chasing knight Duke, the scenario of having no choice but to draw steel against allies to defend one's beliefs was pure delight.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason.
'Sneria's territory will soon face invasion too.'
Powering them up as a group this time around wasn't a bad idea.
Duke swung his greatsword downward at a speed his retainers could barely dodge.
Boom!
A clean cut appeared in the ground where the greatsword slammed down.
The shadows split apart to either side of that line.
The moment Duke's gaze turned to those two masses of shadow, a whip rose from his own shadow.
"Hm."
The instant the whip wrapped around his arm, spears and blades thrust from the hidden shadows in the retainers' forms, targeting his armpits.
'Aiming for vitals hard to block with armor.'
Duke's lips curled up, pleased at their solid training.
'Then it's fine to go a bit harder.'
Clang!
A sound impossible from uniforms made of fabric echoed out.
The spears and blades bouncing off Duke's armpits conveyed clear dismay.
But the merciless knight Duke had no intention of waiting once his sword was drawn.
"Hesitation on the battlefield is death itself. Take it as a lesson in fortune."
With those words, he seized the spear shaft that hadn't yet returned to shadow.
As Duke yanked the spear, the retainer below was dragged out like a harvested crop.
"Wha—?"
"This is as far as you go."
Duke grabbed the retainer by the collar and hurled him into the air.
Boom!
The retainer Duke had thrown had no time to soften the impact with shadow and slammed into the wall.
"He won't be dead."
At Duke's words, one retainer emerged from the shadows to rescue the flying tooth-spitter, shaking his head at the others.
The retainers gritted their teeth and gripped their weapons anew.
But even in this desperate(?) situation, they could give their all because their liege led the charge.
"Haat!"
One emerged from the shadows and swung a scythe wide at his throat.
Duke caught the scythe with psychokinesis just before it touched his neck and swung his sword upward.
The one maintained form until the sword nearly grazed it, then scattered into shadow crows.
"A fine attempt."
Normally, one's gaze would be drawn to the crows, leaving them open to the next attack.
But Duke didn't rely solely on sight.
'Right side.'
Duke tracked her mana and swung his sword.
Soon after slicing another shadow, he realized he'd been tricked.
'Then where... above!'
Clang!
She switched the scythe to an axe and, with gravity's aid, delivered a powerful blow.
For the first time, Duke's knee bent slightly.
'As expected!'
There was no shame.
He had lowered his abilities to match her and the retainers from the start.
If anything, he should marvel at her achievement.
"Your understanding of yourself is impressively high."
Duke didn't skimp on praise whenever there was an opening.
It was his personal prescription for her, who always lacked confidence even in the original story.
She accepted the praise straight, her lips twitching upward.
'Fun.'
She didn't particularly like combat.
She joined the resistance out of duty, swung her scythe for conviction, and held her lordship out of responsibility.
To her, her own prowess was merely a means to build an ideal world.
She enjoyed meditation and training somewhat, but battles meant to harm others were grim chores, never joyful.
Yet hearing Duke's praise shifted her mindset.
'It's not combat I hate.'
She just...
'Craved praise.'
Managing the territory out of duty, she rose again on occasional thanks from the people.
But combat offered none.
When her fights ended, only nearby retainers said "good work," with no one acknowledging the effort poured into that single battle.
To such a her, Duke's nonstop praise...
'This is what recognition feels like.'
Was more than enough to make her smile.
Boom!
Their sword auras clashed, turning the surroundings into a wasteland.
At that moment, a roar came from the lord's manor behind Duke.
"Hm. That side's wrapping up too."
At his words, the elation in her chest began to fade.
'Happy times end so quickly.'
She too prepared to end it, admitting defeat and gathering her shadow scythe and retainers.
"As expected, my..."
But Duke cut her off.
"Come at me with your final strike in earnest. Don't mind the surroundings."
Strength entered the hand gripping her scythe.
'Is it really, really okay?'
Could she go all out without considering the damage?
Duke urged her on, reading the hesitation on her face.
"Trust me. Throw everything you've worked for at me. I'll affirm it all."
At the deep voice ringing in her ears, she finally let go of reason.
Ignoring the retainers remonstrating from the shadows, she began gathering mana.
Duke gripped his greatsword with both hands, raising his own mana.
"Come! Sever the chains called 'responsibility' that bind you—with that scythe!"
Black mist of shadow rose from her body.
Just once.
As if staking everything on this strike.
"In this moment, you are not Sneria—you are Yu Hana!"
The mist began taking concrete form.
It turned to bones, forming a massive skull above her.
This much was her secret art.
But this time was different.
Duke's senses felt her level rising.
As if striving to meet the one affirming her fully.
Muscle fibers began covering the skull, reflecting her change.
Soon, the skull became a lich wrapped in dry skin, then donned robes and spread wings.
She named this new technique on the spot.
"Messis-Mortis!"
⟨ Reaper's Harvest ⟩
The Death Reaper swung its scythe.
A chilling black scythe that devoured even light and air flew at Duke's upper body.
Duke took one step forward and met the strike.
"Nightstroke."
The tip of Duke's sword collided precisely with the scythe.
The sword aura split the scythe cleanly in half without resistance and cleaved the reaper's upper body.
It didn't stop there, passing beyond the reaper to the ramparts behind.
No barbaric explosion sounded.
Inconceivable for that hefty greatsword, the razor-sharp strike left no sound in its wake.
The reaper and ramparts simply slid forward in silence.
Beyond the crumbling inner walls, dawn was breaking.
Duke, with the dawn at his back, asked the dazed Yu Hana.
"Shall we continue?"
To his question, she—sun at her back—replied with a refreshing smile.
"My complete defeat."
[Duke! It's over!]
Duke nodded contentedly, returning his greatsword.
"Perfect timing—the one to fulfill the contract has vanished. My liege and I will take no issue with your actions this dawn, Lord Sneria."
She brushed off her shadows and bowed her head.
"We'll need to renew the contract. Might I stay longer in this territory?"
"I welcome it. My liege will too."
The two walked side by side toward the manor, their cordial demeanor unbelievable for foes moments ago.
Duke sensed he'd never forget her smiling figure, backlit by that rising sun.
.
.
.
.
The retainers silently exchanging hand signals from Yu Hana's shadows turned their gazes to the neatly severed inner ramparts.
Soon, they looked away.