Field Trip (4)
The rift hanging in midair didn't vanish even after the dagger-wielder died.
Clutching my throbbing, ice-cold head, I racked my brain trying to figure out how that was possible.
Did the dagger guy do something right before kicking the bucket?
No, no way. That didn't make sense. He couldn't have had a trick like that up his sleeve.
Then... maybe that demon brute forcibly widened the rift the dagger guy had cracked open, using its own power?
That had to be it—nothing else explained the situation.
The dagger guy had just drawn the line, and the demon was shattering space itself to keep it propped open.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Figures it'd be a late-game boss. What a total monster.
Krunch.
Something crushed from within the rift in midair—a sound more like a visceral sensation rippling through my entire body. Not heard with ears, but felt down to the marrow.
That eerie reverberation shook the battlefield, freezing the magic beasts and demon worshippers in place.
They all stared at the rift slashed into the void.
Stared at the black, grotesque hand prying it open.
"Grroooaaarrr!!! "
Those who saw it let out low, guttural cries.
I couldn't make out the words, but the vibe felt like a victory chant.
Behold, it has come. We have triumphed. Something like that.
The beasts that had been rampaging wildly moments ago dropped to their knees or lowered their stances, bowing in reverence to the demon as if in prayer.
Forgetting even to hold onto me.
The one crawling on the ground, the one swinging a sword, even the one foaming at the mouth as it lunged at the Royal Guard—all of them prostrated themselves before the demon.
The demon ignored them entirely, relentlessly grinding away at the rift's edges to widen the tear in space.
"Wh-what the hell is that...?"
The students and Royal Guard could only gape.
Hardly surprising—they were seeing a demon straight out of creation myths and history books for the first time.
From the expanding gap emerged a wrist, then a forearm, then a full arm.
"...A demon."
Ern muttered, blood trickling from one eye.
Even the cool-headed crown prince hadn't anticipated this; he just stared wordlessly at the demon's forearm.
"Ah..."
This was bad. Real bad.
Who the hell could stop that thing here?
Ern? No chance. He'd already paid way too steep a price going after that dagger guy.
Besides, demons weren't something you outsmarted with technique. You had to smash them with raw power.
Reinhardt and the Royal Guard... maybe they could scratch it a bit.
Not the prince, but the Guard were all Sword Experts.
But scratches were all they'd manage.
To land a real hit on a demon, you needed a Sword Master.
...And there was one here who qualified.
Me.
Only I could inflict a proper wound on that thing right now.
In other words...
A golden opportunity to etch myself into everyone's memory.
Leaning on my sword like a cane, I staggered toward Reinhardt.
He took one look at me, eyes widening briefly before he scowled.
"...Get back. What do you think you're doing in that state?"
"Hah... hah... Hey, Reinhardt... reinforcements... on the way...?"
He shot me a look like who cares about that right now? but sighed in resignation.
"...The Northern Duke is rushing here now. He'll arrive soon, but... looks like the demon will descend first."
Dad was coming?
Ah, perfect then.
Just buy some time, and we'd pull through.
So, no holding back. Go all out.
While Cecilia's blessing still held back the ether's erosion.
Time to slam in my strongest strike.
I sheathed my sword and dumped a ridiculous amount of ether into it.
Compressed the blooming aura, and compressed it again, forcing it into a crude imitation of an Aura Blade.
Crack, crack—something inside me shattered further.
Didn't matter.
Cecilia would fix it somehow.
"Ilisha, what the hell are you doing?! Stop!"
Someone shouted my name. Ern, probably—no one else could yell from that distance.
"Haaa..."
Exhaling a plume of white breath, I steadied my stance.
"...Watch."
I muttered to no one in particular.
And swung.
No sound pierced the frozen air.
But the blue sword trail etched in the void proved I'd landed it clean.
Moments later, a thin blue line scored the demon's hand.
Then, like splitting firewood, the demon's grasp cleaved vertically in two.
-!!!!!!!!!!!!
No actual noise, but a deafening agony rang out that made everyone clap their hands over their ears.
All I knew for sure: my arm and the demon's had both been utterly wrecked.
Crunch—something burst from my right arm.
Ice crystals.
My hand split open; veins ruptured inside, sprouting pale, frosty crystals amid the blood.
"Ilisha!!!"
"Ilisha?! Pull yourself together! Don't close your eyes!"
"You crazy bitch, crazy bitch, crazy...!"
"Ah... uwaa... ahhh..."
I wondered why I could hear all the kids—turns out they'd all rushed over.
They were all here.
All watching me.
It felt... really good.
No better word came to mind right now.
My vision blurred, the demon's black claw beyond the rift doubling, tripling, quadrupling.
Had the ether reached my brain?
Bad news.
Or... good? In a daze like this, maybe fear wouldn't hit as hard.
Only regret: couldn't see their faces clearly through the haze.
But their voices rang true, so I could bask in their attention that way.
"...Cough."
I tried to speak, but only a weak sneeze came out.
"It's too cold... this is..."
A warm touch reached me, easing the chill a bit.
Had to be Cecilia.
"Cecilia...! Ilisha, her arm's got ice...!"
That was Lucia's voice, laced with tears—my state must've shocked her.
Hmm.
Wonder what I looked like anyway.
One thing for sure: something was sprouting from my right arm.
"We can't just remove it recklessly. Could cause massive bleeding... might even be fatal."
"If-if we remove it temporarily and reconstruct the meridians..."
Dorothea was fumbling for answers even now, piecing together a solution.
"...Everyone, attack!!! That's a wound the Northern Duke's daughter inflicted at the cost of her life! Drive back the demon before it heals!!!"
Reinhardt gnashed his teeth, ordering the mages and Royal Guard.
Ern alone said nothing.
Hmm.
If only I could see clearly.
Would've loved to catch his expression.
Ern was probably digging a hole in the ground, blaming himself again. It's my fault, all my fault.
Definitely. Yeah.
"Cecilia..."
Squeezing out what little strength I had, I called to her.
"...Yes, Ilisha. I'm listening. What is it?"
"Did I... do good?"
Unnecessary question, really.
Just curiosity about her reaction—asked anyway.
How was that?
She tightened her grip on me slightly, her voice trembling oddly.
"...Like a hero."
A hero? Nah, not quite.
But if our Cecilia was offering a piggyback ride, I'd happily hop on.
"You... what the hell are you even saying!!! "
Lucia exploded, utterly baffled and frustrated, but that tearful tone fooled no one.
She could just say she was worried—why so scared to admit it?
"D-don't talk, Ilisha. Just stay still, or... or..."
Dorothea babbled incoherently, begging me to shut up.
Sorry, but that's not easy.
Feels like I have to say something.
"...Don't worry, Ilisha. You've done more than enough. Now... rest."
Her gentle blessing enveloped me, but my body didn't heal.
Obviously.
You max out loans like that, no bailout's gonna save you.
...Realizing how close I'd come to death hit harder that way.
Without Cecilia, I'd be gone for sure.
"Heh... hehe..."
Relief at surviving mixed with the thrill of all eyes on me, bursting into laughter.
From the sounds, every projectile they could muster was pounding the demon's arm.
...Might even finish it before Dad arrives.
That very thought crossed my mind when—
"Kieeeek!!!??! "
"Grraaaack!!!"
Suddenly, the battlefield erupted in shrieks from the beasts and worshippers.
"Damn...!"
Thought they'd resume the assault.
No.
Their cries faded; black dust rose into the air, flowing toward the demon's arm.
"...What."
Lucia muttered.
Couldn't see great myself, but same feeling.
The demon's arm was regenerating.
Frozen stump cracking off, fresh flesh budding, the severed limb reattaching.
...Holy shit. This was insane.
The thought bubbled up unbidden.
"...That's a demon for you."
Even Reinhardt muttered in disbelief; Ern chimed in.
"Knew it seemed too easy..."
He braced himself, preparing something.
Hey, don't you start. You're not supposed to.
...Unless it's me, anyway.
"...Cecilia."
I barely managed her name.
"Ilisha...?"
Her voice sounded frail too—resolve shaken by the sight.
"...Help me up."
"Pardon?"
If I stepped up now.
If I rose here, right now.
They'd all see.
The idea made me chuckle.
Yeah.
One more wound on that thing from me here...
Might even make the history books.
These kids would never forget my name till they died.
So, I had to stand.
This might be my final stage.
"What... are you saying, Ilisha."
Cecilia sensed my intent, trying to dissuade me.
"Please... only I can."
Let me go.
I want to be seen.
Remembered as a true hero.
A memory that haunts you till death.
So, help me up.
Cecilia.
I gripped my sword again with my unresponsive right arm, channeling ether.
Wanted to brute-force it in, but frozen meridians wouldn't allow.
Still, instinct said this would suffice.
It was enough.
"H-hey...! Stop, stop it! You'll really die!!!"
"...Better than everyone dying, right?"
With Cecilia's help, I forced myself upright, clutching the sword.
I felt it wail in my hand.
Following that cry, I gently ignited my aura.
The aura bloomed from the blade, flickered, then converged—coating it thinly, solidly.
Not some forced shell of compressed aura, but my will infused into the sword: a true manifestation of intent.
A perfect Aura Blade gleamed along the edge.
"Ah..."
Someone far off gasped.
Every living soul—even the demon—fixed on my sword.
All eyes on the battlefield turned to me in that instant.
Yes. Perfect.
If this is the finale, I need an audience this size.
Thrill bubbling over, a giddy breath slipped out.
I took a step.
Joints crunching like they might shatter, lungs rejecting air, heart thudding with cracks echoing through me.
Didn't matter.
They were all watching.
So I had to move.
"Ilisha, stop!"
Stop? What kind of nonsense was that.
Lame.
With that ridiculous thought—
I swung.
Not at the demon's arm.
At the space it had torn open.
That was my last memory.