Chapter 70
Chapter 70
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Mage Heroine (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Reverse."
The overturning reversal and Prelia vanished in an instant.
After glancing briefly at the spot where the two had been, Ruin glared at the man in black armor standing before him.
"You fucking retard."
Is. The man who had once been the Saintess's direct Holy Knight had now become the Second Black Knight.
He had stepped in to resolve what Ruin couldn't, but now he was caught in the grip of Overturning Reversal, blocking Ruin's path.
"Hey, let me say this first: I still haven't figured out how to dispel this black magic spell that's got you twisted up against me, so I'm just gonna beat your ass until you're down."
"Cocky much? If I get the reversal on you instead, you won't like what happens."
"You fucking gay—"
"Hero. Get a grip on your emotions. You're always getting swept up in them, and that's your problem."
"...Fuck."
Ruin took a breath at Ariana's words, then gripped his sword straight.
"You think I've gotten weaker just 'cause I turned into a woman? Even if I were a newborn baby without arms or legs, I'd still be the strongest."
"Then shall we test that?"
"But you fucking prick, why do you keep talking down to me...!"
"Dunno. I just don't think you're worth the polite treatment."
Is raised his shotel and shield into a combat stance.
"Let's see what you've got!"
-Boom!
He kicked off the ground and shot toward Ruin like a cannonball.
But Ruin immediately raised his sword diagonally into a defensive posture.
-Clang!!
Ruin's sword and Is's shotel clashed, echoing with a deafening roar.
In the midst of their fierce power struggle, Is suddenly smashed down at Ruin with the shield in his other hand.
"Kyaa!!"
Ruin let out a delicate scream as he barely dodged the attack.
"Sounds nice."
"Shut up!"
A fierce exchange of blows unfolded between Ruin and Is.
When Ruin swung his sword, Is blocked with his shield; when Is swung his shotel, Ruin twisted his sword to parry.
At a glance, it looked like a fairly even fight, but in reality, Ruin was overwhelmingly disadvantaged.
'Fuck, why's he so strong?'
Unlike Is, who knew his own lack of raw power and had honed his techniques meticulously—never hesitating to use dirty tricks when needed—Ruin had always crushed everyone with sheer force. So when brute strength failed, he had no answers.
The Is before him now was reversed, his fighting style shifted to match Ruin's.
Since Ruin's power was slightly inferior, if it turned into a pure strength contest, he was bound to lose.
"So confident... but you don't seem all that."
"What the fuck do you know, you bastard!"
Fueled by sudden rage, Ruin repelled Is's shotel.
As he swung his sword again, Is rotated his shotel and hooked it onto Ruin's blade.
-Whoosh!
"Kyaaak?!"
His sword flew from his grip, slamming into the wall.
"Ah..."
Ariana's sigh came from behind.
-Crunch.
'Fuck, why...'
Ruin ground his teeth in frustration at the utterly unfair situation, swallowing his rage.
Is approached him with leisurely steps.
"Calling yourself the strongest? You're not even worthy."
"...It's not self-proclaimed, you fuck. Everyone acknowledges it."
"Is that so?"
Is shrugged indifferently, then reached out and grabbed Ruin's chin.
"Lost your sword, in a bad spot—what can you even do?"
"No sword? I'll use my fist... wait a sec."
Mid-retort, Ruin felt a sense of déjà vu.
'This conversation... feels familiar, like I've heard it before.'
Ruin racked his brain and soon recalled it.
'Fuck, this is almost exactly what I said to this bastard the first time we fought.'
The words Ruin had spat at Is.
Now Is was spitting similar ones back at him.
'...So this is what it felt like.'
He hadn't realized when saying them, but hearing them made them so damn rude.
What pissed Ruin off even more was that even in this situation, he couldn't beat Is.
Just like when Is had faced him back then.
'I just wanna give up.'
Ruin couldn't understand why he, the Hero, had to endure this.
From a young age, he'd realized power and talent were everything.
That's why he'd looked down on those who toiled.
His peers who worked hard ended up as mere guards, while he became the Hero.
So he'd seen Is as just another dime-a-dozen hard worker, nothing special.
But.
'How are you so... in a situation like this...'
Now in his shoes, he got it.
Facing someone overwhelmingly stronger in such a disadvantageous spot wasn't as easy as he'd thought.
Even he wanted to throw in the towel right now—what about those without talent?
But.
"If the shield breaks, block with the sword; if the sword breaks, stab with the shield."
Is's will hadn't broken.
The moment he realized that, lightning struck in Ruin's mind.
"You fucking retard."
He didn't know if those words were aimed at Is or himself.
But there was one thing he knew in this situation.
"No sword? Then I'll just make one."
He absolutely couldn't lose to this guy here.
"What?"
Holy Power erupted from both of Ruin's hands in a surprise burst before the questioning Is.
-Flash!
"Ugh...!"
Is recoiled back for a moment.
Ruin seized the opening and quickly retreated.
"...Tricks."
Is's expression hardened slightly, annoyed at being caught.
Only then did Ruin curl his lips into a smirk.
"No sword? So what. I've got a will sharper and tougher than any blade, and a lifelong faith to wield it."
"...Hah, playing word games?"
"But sometimes, word games alone can earn forgiveness from Mother."
He placed his right hand over his chest.
Because he was a woman now, it ended up between the two mounds, but Ruin didn't care.
Shaping his hand as if gripping a sword hilt, he drew it forth.
"What are you... what?!"
Doubt turned to shock in Is's eyes, who had been watching dismissively.
-Shiiiing...!
"I may be twisted, but I won't break."
From the cleft between Ruin's breasts emerged a golden 'sword' shining so brilliantly it dazzled.
"A sword of Holy Power...? No, this isn't ordinary Holy Power..."
Is reacted as if he'd seen something forbidden.
At the sword's utterly holy and radiant form, tears welled up involuntarily in Is's eyes.
'Thank you, Mother.'
This was Ruin's first time attempting the technique; he'd referenced the two who had used it before. Fortunately, the Mother in heaven forgave him and granted even greater power.
"Ahh, this aura..."
Is looked at Ruin with awe amid his panic.
Ruin advanced toward him, reversed.
"Hey, didn't the Goddess say she grants power to the weak?"
Ruin continued with a feral smile.
"I'll be the weak one."
Mentally, Ruin was the weak one.
A Hero acting like a bratty teen.
"Heroes have always embodied the Seven Chief Virtues: humility, charity, kindness, patience, chastity, temperance, diligence. That's why people praise them. Compared to them, I'm way behind."
'I trust you from that day you tried to enlighten me.'
"Is, the Holy Knight I hate most... and respect most."
He confessed sincerely to Is.
"I know it's late, but I'll show you what a Hero can do."
Is silently gazed at the tip of Ruin's sword.
>
>
>
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Clang!
"Damn it, what the hell!"
At first, when we traded blows with Ruin, I had the upper hand.
I don't know what happened with the pathetic Ruin, but he used a familiar technique and swung a sword made of an aura unlike ordinary Holy Power.
"Hup—!"
I swung my shotel with full power again.
But.
-Clang!
It was blocked outright again.
And the counter followed seamlessly.
The blade of light slithered in like a snake, feinting with footwork.
Long black hair flowed gracefully as red eyes pierced toward my heart.
But she couldn't maintain that technique forever.
"...I'll end it here."
Ruin seemed to know it too, preparing one final, all-out strike.
"You think I'll let you?!"
Feeling like it'd be bad if I let it go on, I charged at her at full speed.
"Brother Is. This time, let our Hero shine too."
"!! High Priest Lib...!"
Lib High Priest suddenly appeared and grabbed me, slowing me down.
And so, in the end...
"Confession."