Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Story Left by the Witch☆ (3)
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The final gateway to the World Tree.
Beneath the towering barrier that enveloped the World Tree, in the shade cast by its colossal branches, two girls were fighting.
One girl wielded a massive lance, commanding dozens of lightning bolts.
The other, her serpentine tattoo glowing, unleashed thousands of weapons.
The clash of countless lightning bolts and the tide of weapons roared.
*Rumble—!*
*CRASH—!*
The sounds of collision continued unabated.
Like two immense maelstroms colliding, the battle between these two wielders of formidable power permitted no interference. The mere aftershocks of their fight, spilling below the barrier, were causing damage on the scale of a natural disaster.
Thousands of crimson weapons soared through the air, while innumerable bolts of azure and white lightning struck down. The shockwaves shook the very earth as a tide of ether-forged weapons surged forth.
*Rumble—!*
*CRASH—!*
A collision forged by azure-white lightning and a tide of crimson weapons.
Where they met once more, a tremendous wave of power erupted.
*BOOOOM—!*
A wave of destruction created by the two girls.
Like a raging, storm-tossed sea, their battle recreated a cataclysmic torrent that destroyed everything in its path. As the immense waves of power, reminiscent of the gods’ fury, crashed over the surroundings, countless buildings buckled and collapsed.
Another wave.
Another collapse.
*Rumble—!*
*CRASH—!*
The streets below the towering barrier.
Once the most elegant district in the Academy City, adorned in brilliant white and gold, it was now scarred with the ravages of destruction. And into those tragic ruins, dozens of lightning bolts struck down once again.
*Rumble—!*
In the darkness cast by the World Tree's shade.
The flash of lightning created the silhouettes of the two dueling girls. In an instant, the shadows returned, and the two figures vanished back into the shade of the World Tree.
“…”
This was the latest of many clashes.
Yet, as Brynhildr looked at Frau, her gaze held no trace of hatred.
As a guardian of Academy City Yggd, she simply followed the established rules of the city, delivering judgment with cold impartiality. She had been raised and educated her entire life as a member of the military clique that protected the World Tree.
‘Even if Frau joined hands with Ratatoskr, who injured Lara… she is not the target of my revenge. I am here now as the head of the United Student Council.’
She was merely observing and judging this situation as an arbiter of the Academy City.
In that case.
As the head of the United Student Council.
And as a guardian of the Academy City.
If she were to define Frau’s current actions in a single phrase…
‘…A meaningless struggle.’
That was the only way to describe Frau’s actions.
Even if the Aristocratic Faction achieved a sudden surge in power and secured victory at this moment, it would be a victory won with the help of Ratatoskr… Even if they were to occupy the space before the World Tree today, the entire Academy City’s fury would turn on them for achieving a meaningless victory with the aid of a subversive force.
How could she not understand something so obvious?
“…”
“…”
Brynhildr issued a final warning to Frau.
“…Stand down. This is the World Tree.”
“Hmph, I refuse. I am the leader of the Aristocratic Faction… and the one who carries out the sacred duty of the Beastkin left by the Golden Witch.”
Frau declared, staring directly at the strongest student in the Academy City. Her eyes were filled with an unconcealable crimson obsession and madness.
“The rightful dominion over the World Tree, usurped by you 1500 years ago… I will reclaim it with my own hands as the leader of the Aristocratic Faction. That is the will the Aristocrats… the closest descendants of the Golden Witch… must possess!”
“…”
“I will restore the honor of the greatest Beastkin, returning our dominion over the World Tree after 1500 years. And…! With the power of this ancient god…! I will change the laws of this world that judge all souls by Fate!”
“…”
“For that purpose!! Be it external power!! Ancient power!! The sacrifice of students!! I will use anything—!!”
“…”
“I am!! The progenitor of all nobles!! The closest successor to the Golden Witch—!!”
“…”
*Swoosh—!*
With Frau’s cry, countless daggers, longswords, greatswords, spears, and bows materialized behind her, all aimed at Brynhildr.
“I…! I am the great successor…!”
An inferiority complex bordering on madness.
Feeling it surge, Frau bit her lip hard. Fresh blood trickled from the wound as memories of the past flashed through her mind.
Long years of humiliation.
From birth, she was scorned as a dunce, unworthy of her bloodline. Everyone who saw the Fate contained within her pathetic ether was disappointed.
When she finally entered the Academy City.
Frau’s years of humiliation reached their zenith.
For it was there she witnessed the Golden Generation, her peers… The Five Colors of the Academy City.
‘…And the now-faded Pink Spiral, as well.’
Watching them burnish their own honor in the Academy City, the center of this world, she couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency. The fate of this world… was being rewritten by them.
‘If only I had such talent and opportunity…!’
A desperate struggle to change her insignificant fate.
That was why… she had accepted the power offered by the green-haired man without hesitation.
Even if it was a poisoned chalice, she wanted to make one last, desperate stand.
*Drip—*
Blood trickled from Frau’s lip.
Perhaps it was because she had glimpsed the thick inferiority complex seeping from that wound.
“…”
Brynhildr spoke to Frau, her words laden with multiple meanings.
“If you are a leader, you should know where to extend your hand, shouldn’t you?”
“…”
Where to extend one’s hand…
Brynhildr’s words held three meanings.
As an aristocrat, living with a duty.
The meaning of encroaching upon the World Tree.
As a student of Academy City Yggd.
The meaning of joining hands with the likes of Ratatoskr.
And…
As one who lives the Fate determined by the World Tree.
The meaning of abandoning that Fate and entrusting oneself to chaos.
Frau understood it all, and she answered defiantly.
“What of it?”
“…”
Frau spread her arms wide, her voice filled with rage as she cried out to the one with the most brilliant Fate in the Academy City.
“Yes, someone like you, born with a shining Fate from the start, wouldn't understand! This humiliation and despair! The sorrow of those whose Fates have already been defined as insignificant…! But I will change this cursed world—!”
“…?”
Brynhildr, in the middle of listening to Frau’s inferiority-laced shout, glanced to the side.
*SWOOOSH—!*
In that instant.
A massive purple greatsword flew from the distance and struck Frau squarely on the head. A clear sound, like a tin can hitting another tin can, echoed through the air.
*CLANG—!*
Her head snapped back.
Her slender body spun.
Frau began to fall.
“—Ngyah?!”
*WHOOOOOSH—!*
With the impact… Frau plummeted rapidly toward the ground below the towering barrier.
“…”
Brynhildr stared blankly for a moment, then moved toward the spot where Frau had fallen. In the distance, she could see a few students from the Aristocratic Faction hastily using magic skills to rescue Frau.
-President!!
-Lady Frau!!
-Ugyagyak…! M-my back… it, it hurts…
-Q-Quickly, we need to heal her…!
Confirming the direction in which they disappeared.
Brynhildr was about to descend the barrier quickly.
But as she prepared to leave, a casual glance in one direction revealed an astonishing sight.
“…!”
A soft gasp escaped Brynhildr’s lips as she took in the scene.
“Hmm…”
Except for when she thought of her beloved… the girl who would one day be her lover, her life had always been a gray, emotionless winter.
But for the first time in a long while, she felt a strong emotion.
It was utter bewilderment.
“…”
Purple weapons were pouring from the sky.
*Fwoosh—*
*Fwoosh—*
*Fwoosh—*
A great fountain spewing purple weapons.
From what she presumed was the grounds of the Public Vana Boarding School, countless purple armaments were tracing huge arcs, flying over a distance of several kilometers.
*Fwoosh—*
*Fwoosh—*
*Fwoosh—*
Where the purple weapons fell with a roar.
The students with snake tattoos, who just moments ago had been unleashing a terrifying assault, were now being struck by the parabolic barrage. The number of students crying out in a single shriek before passing out was rapidly increasing.
-Kyah?!
-Yipe!!
-Whimper…!
However, of the hundreds of weapons being launched, only a small fraction actually left the school grounds to pursue the snake-tattooed aristocrats who were roaming outside.
*Swoosh—!*
*Fwoosh—!*
*Thwump—!*
Most of the weapons traced nearly vertical arcs, falling back onto the grounds of the Public Vana Boarding School. The scene was like a localized purple rain falling only on the school.
‘What in the world is that.’
Brynhildr muttered to herself as she watched the sudden downpour of purple weapons in the distance.
“The Violet Spindle…?”
And when she looked again at the place from which the purple weapons were pouring.
“Lara…?”
The distance made it hard to see clearly… but she could also make out her beloved pink-haired girl, fighting in a very… very strange manner.
‘Lara, you told me to trust you… so why… are you riding a weapon…?’
It was a bit embarrassing to admit, but she looked a little foolish. Foolish… no, to be honest, her foolishness was one of her charms… but still.
‘What on earth is she doing.’
As if mesmerized, Brynhildr began to run toward that place.
***
Riding atop a greatsword piloted like a drone by Milla, the rabbit librarian.
I used the shaft of my spear to smack the head of one of the Priest of Conflict’s many Black Sun clones, turning his skull into ground beef.
*WHACK—!*
With the sound of a watermelon splitting, the tattooed man’s face shattered satisfyingly. He had the kind of face that looked like it belonged to a Cao Cao, the type to covet another man’s woman.
‘Have you no shame before Cao Ang, who died while you were dallying with a married woman, you homewrecking fiend!’
I delivered a punishing blow with my staff arts, sending the half-crushed beef-head flying.
*Thud—!*
“…”
In reality, the Priest of Conflict, a member of a fanatical lizard-supremacist group, probably didn't have such tastes… but something about his face just set me off.
‘To be honest, I'm probably just overreacting because the nightmare of the Priest of Erosion’s early appearance is still fresh.’
To drive away the memory of that fear.
Like the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, soaring through the skies… I flew around on the greatsword Milla controlled, continuously smacking the faces of the charging Black Sun fellows with my spear shaft.
“[Red Flower Dazzling]—!!”
“D-Damn it?! Isn’t that the Crimson Trajectory?!”
“Nope~☆ The name of my soul is the Crimson Trajectory! The other heart of Scarlet Academy, it’s true♪”
“Your ether color is different! Who the hell is this?!”
“Because cute girls are liars~☆”
The trajectory of my spear tip transformed into what looked like a bouquet of white flowers.
Five Black Sun clones shattered in an instant.
Their weakness was that the more numerous they were, the weaker their control became.
‘Why are these guys spouting nonsense at me… It just makes me spout nonsense back.’
Eir was probably enjoying a leisurely morning back at Scarlet Academy. I should probably have a meal with her sometime and clear up this misunderstanding…
Anyway…
I was inwardly grateful that the Priest of Conflict, who was pressing me with sheer numbers, had appeared at such an honest-to-goodness time. To show my gratitude, I swung my spear shaft like a club and cracked their skulls open.
‘I can hold out until the main body appears. My view is clear, and I'm getting support fire from the Sage's Chamber…’
Handling waves of mobs is the specialty of the cost-effective Pink Spiral.
*Thwack!*
*Thwack!*
*Thwack!*
“Kagh?!”
“Gyaak?!”
“Keuk..?!”
Seeing the black ether gushing from their smashed heads, I was certain Ófnir’s preference was for soy-marinated beef. Unfortunately, my own taste for spicy stir-fried pork meant we were destined to walk parallel, irreconcilable paths.
‘Good thing we’ll never have to eat together.’
One of the Black Sun clones left by Ófnir, the Priest of Conflict, clutched its broken head and muttered in disbelief. Black ether was leaking out of it.
“Ugh…?! T-This is a little different from what we heard…!”
“Yep♪ I’m cuter than you imagined, right?”
“You damn inferior species…!”
But the clone couldn't finish its sentence.
Because countless weapons were raining down from the sky like a storm. They were still falling, automatically firing as they tracked the residual traces of ether.
“Kuaaargh!?”
The number of clones dwindled in an instant.
But like cockroaches, they kept pouring out from the darkness somewhere, replenishing their numbers.
One of Ófnir’s clones glared at me, grinding its teeth. The intimidating presence of the two-meter-tall, dragon-horned men was impressive, but they were no match for me, someone who has read *Romance of the Three Kingdoms* more than three times.
‘I can hold on… until the main body arrives!’
The main body’s presence was still far off, dithering and testing the waters.
I shouted at them confidently.
“I am the invincible Sleeping Dragon Master, Zhuge Liang—☆”
“…?!”
A bold taunt.
But for some reason… the clones just stared at me with wide eyes.
***
*THUD—!*
“Kyaa?!”
Lotha stumbled from the impact as she was running out of the Sage’s Chamber to help Clara. She cried out in surprise as she felt a jolt to her head.
“…!”
She hastily glanced to the side and saw the statue of the Golden Witch, which had shifted slightly from its original position. It seemed the shock of the battle had moved it.
Lotha hurriedly tried to push the statue back into place, grunting with effort. But moving the incredibly heavy statue was a struggle.
“S-Sorry, Lady Witch…! I’ll be sure to put you back once this emergency is over…!”
Just then.
“Huh?”
Beneath the statue of the Golden Witch.
She saw that a single old, worn-out grimoire had fallen out.