Chapter 346: The Tin Knight and the Kingdom of the Underground (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 346: The Tin Knight and the Kingdom of the Underground (11)
When an emerald flash sparked in the far distance.
The white witch, Gale, spoke to you.
“If we're following the script of an old heroic tale, this is the part where I should say this.”
A hand gently pushed your back.
『Rush』 『Swiftness』 『Breakthrough』
At the same time, magic characters appeared, lightening your steps.
“Leave this to us and go on ahead.”
Gale's white suit was sullied from the continuous battles, and as for the White Knight, it was harder to find a part of him that wasn't damaged.
The three of you had tried to break through together, only to be thwarted each time. It was obvious the situation would only worsen if you left.
And yet, the girl's face held not a trace of grim determination or sorrow, only a mischievous smile.
“Whenever I see that part in heroic tales where the ones left behind are sacrificed, I've always wanted to shatter that cliché. This is the perfect chance.”
The White Witch declared in a clear, bright voice.
In response, the White Knight’s spear instantly wiped out a portion of the underground army that had surrounded them.
As if to say, if his master had so decided, it was his duty to execute the command.
Your eyes met the White Knight’s.
The taciturn knight, rather than speaking, conveyed his message through action.
-Go.
Seeing this, you hesitated no longer.
Thump!
Your steps were light.
Your metal body, usually impossibly heavy, now felt as light as a feather, harmonizing with the witch's magic.
Faster, faster, faster still.
Your body, accelerating with every step, soon drew close enough to the destination to see those engaged in a fierce, bloody struggle in the distance.
Emerald soldiers carrying out a massacre. A multitude of humans resisting them desperately.
The king, fighting desperately while coughing up blood. A girl with a crude sword sent flying somewhere by an attack.
An ominous girl in a black dress, and held captive by her, your contractor, desperately maintaining a barrier that looked ready to shatter at any moment.
Was it because you were on high ground and had a wide view, or was it that just as you could sense Dorothea's mana, she could sense yours?
Inside the barrier, Dorothea's eyes widened.
You shouted with intensity.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests mana, stating it’s about to land a huge blow!]
“...!”
Your contractor was wise, and her decision was swift.
She began to haphazardly pour mana into you through the remote circuit.
The defensive barrier, already precarious, weakened in an instant, pushed to the brink of collapse.
She couldn't draw mana from the undead protecting the people or the purification spells holding back the poison, so she began to pour her own share of mana into you.
A dangerous act; a delay of even a few seconds could mean her own demise.
Perhaps there was a cold calculation that her life wouldn't be in danger even if she were captured, but either way, it didn't matter.
Because you had not the slightest intention of letting the enemy's hands touch her.
The mana you had been running on fumes in economy mode began to churn violently, like a raging river.
Dorothea's mana suffused every nook and cranny of your rusted, creaking body, filling your limbs with power.
You kicked off the ground and swung your sword.
Slice!
Though you swung only once, the sword strikes were many.
The emerald soldiers on the ground were instantly sliced in two at the waist, and the plant that had been trying to grab Dorothea scattered into pieces.
You caught the falling Dorothea, landed on the ground, and set her down.
You looked behind you.
You could see the figure of the knight who had desperately bought you time until you arrived.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ expresses its admiration for a magnificent performance!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests that it will take over now, and that they should rest!]
You couldn't know if your words were conveyed correctly, but seeing the knight lose consciousness with a smile, it seemed your message hadn't been poorly received.
You placed Dorothea behind you and turned your gaze forward.
The girl in black glared at you, her face cold and hard.
KWOONG!
A great wave of light erupted around Ozma's body, and countless plant stems shot out.
They enveloped the fallen emerald soldiers, absorbing them as if melting them down.
Simultaneously, new soldiers burst forth from within the flower buds that had bloomed profusely.
You watched this happen but did not bother to interfere.
The resurrected soldiers rose with lifeless movements and prepared to charge you and the others again.
You swung your sword.
Slice!
The emerald soldiers, who had clearly been resurrected, were once again sliced in two in unison.
You took a step forward.
Ozma's expression twisted, and she once again spread a wave of light.
The same process repeated, and the emerald soldiers were once again cut down.
You advanced again.
No matter how many times Ozma revived her soldiers, you sliced through every last one of them.
As tough as the soldiers were, they were hardly a match for you, who had even cut through the dragon scales of Dracaena.
Unless you were too far away to receive a mana supply, as long as you had enough mana, you could cut down these small fry any number of times.
Thud. With every step you took, Ozma's face twisted.
Thud. With every step you took, the shaking in Ozma's eyes grew more violent.
Like a child throwing a tantrum, Ozma screamed.
“Why! Why! How! The 'Knights' died out long, long ago!! Why is someone like you here now!!”
You took another step forward in silence.
Ozma shrieked at Dorothea.
“Dorothy! It's me! Tip! I just wanted to be with you, I came all the way down to this place to save you, so why won't you understand!”
From behind you, you heard a soft sigh.
Dorothea declared.
“Forcing yourself on someone without asking their opinion isn't goodwill or friendship. It's just obsession and self-righteousness.”
The cold words struck Ozma like a blow.
“—Don't try to make me an ornament by your side.”
It was a truly satisfying remark.
Behind your cold, metal face, you couldn't help but smile inwardly.
But, being a greedy sort, you felt this wasn't enough.
“Doro—”
The moment Ozma tried to open her mouth again, you shot off the ground.
Ozma flinched and tried to stop you with her soldiers, but those who were cut down in a single clash when facing you head-on had no hope of defending someone else.
The sword in your right hand cut down her guards, and your left fist slammed squarely into Ozma's face.
WHAM!
Ozma's body was thrown backward.
Surprisingly, aside from a slightly reddened nose, Ozma was otherwise unharmed.
Considering you had struck with enough force to nearly shatter her head, her toughness was truly astounding.
But that didn't mean she was a threat to you.
If she was tough, you just had to hit her that much harder.
You knew this truth very well.
Thwack! Wham! Pummel!
Ozma was a delicate girl.
Ozma was a heavenly princess.
If one were to define an 'opponent you shouldn't hit carelessly' by worldly standards, Ozma would fit the criteria perfectly.
Of course, you didn't care in the slightest.
If someone did something to deserve a beating, they deserved a beating, no matter who they were.
“Kyah! Ack! Ugh!”
Even while being beaten by you, Ozma struggled to break free.
Each time she curled up and released her emerald holy power, red flower buds bloomed, and from them, new emerald soldiers were born.
The soldiers swung their weapons at you, and the stems writhed like snakes, aiming for you.
You cut, dodged, and blocked everything they threw at you, steadfastly continuing to beat Ozma down.
Ozma's durability was abnormal; not only did your solid metal fists have little effect, but even slashing her with your sword only left a faint red line on her skin.
The reason was simple.
Holy power.
The holy power dwelling within Ozma, a power for which the word 'inexhaustible' seemed fitting, was endlessly reinforcing and protecting her body.
You had once cut through a wall made of emerald in the City of Scales, but Ozma's toughness felt as if that entire wall had been densely compressed.
Of course, it wasn't a major problem.
Because a barrier is bound to break if you keep hitting it.
You carefully observed the holy power protecting Ozma's body, searching for a way to break through it.
You shook the fortress-like barrier in various ways, trying to force an opening.
And finally, the barrier was pierced.
Slice!
“Aaargh!”
Ozma's left arm was severed in a single motion.
Just as you, having learned the trick, were about to cut off her head.
“—Hah. How foolish.”
A spear the color of water fell from the sky toward you.
A javelin formed by compressing water and hardening its surface with holy power.
You swung your sword to block it, something you had experienced once before.
And the black-red beast did not miss the opening created by your action.
CRACK!
A heavy and fierce blow, so powerful that the mere act of stepping forward and swinging the sword seemed to make space itself creak.
The destruction wrought by the massive greatsword slammed into you with full force.
You managed to block that as well, but you couldn't stop yourself from retreating before the ensuing shower of water spears.
You regained your posture and looked forward again.
Near Ozma.
Angels of blue and black-red, who had appeared at some point, were now guarding her side.
“Are you an idiot? Do you even think? What are you trying to accomplish by being here? There's a limit to disobeying the Heavenly King's orders.”
The blue angel spat out the venomous words, her face a mixture of annoyance and irritation.
It was a complete departure from the deeply melancholic and sorrowful face she had shown in the City of Scales.
All sorts of hats floated around her, but not a single one was placed on her head.
“...”
In contrast, the black-red angel remained silent.
But the pressure she emanated was so intense that her mere presence seemed to crush everything around her.
“Ah, sob! Sob! Why! How! Dorothy! Just why!!”
Ozma didn't respond to the blue angel's words.
She merely shrieked like a child throwing a fit, overwhelmed by the pain in her severed arm and a situation that wasn't going her way.
At this sight, the blue angel shook her head.
“Right, what's the point of talking. We'll just have to drag you away. Grab her.”
At the blue angel's command, the black-red angel silently retrieved Ozma and her severed arm.
Ozma only whimpered and shed tears, no longer struggling or insisting on staying.
A purple hat from among those circling the blue angel, Langwidere, moved on its own and settled upon her head.
At that, a jocular smile spread across Langwidere's face, which had been full of irritation and annoyance.
“Well then, everyone. The unwelcome guests unsuited for this place will now take their leave. Please, live happily ever after in your dark burrows for all eternity.”
Snap!
When Langwidere snapped her fingers, something like a giant portal materialized behind the angels.
Visible beyond it was a beautiful city, filled entirely with an emerald glow.
Just as you moved to stop them as they were about to leave.
Chill!
Your body.
The body of the Tin Knight.
It sounded the highest possible alarm, sending you a warning.
Heeding that warning, you swung with all your might.
SHIIIIIIIIING!
The sword energy you unleashed collided with the sword energy from 'someone' beyond the portal, generating a tremendous shockwave.
Everything nearby was sliced, chopped, and shattered, screaming in the process.
And in the next moment, one of your shoulders was carved away as if scooped out.
You realized.
You had been overpowered in a pure contest of sword energy.
The angels were disappearing beyond the portal.
Among the blue, the black-red, and the black angels.
Seeing 'him' there, your eyes widened.
You could sense Dorothea behind you gasp inadvertently, as if she too had seen him.
You and Dorothea knew that figure.
Having just witnessed his entire life story, it was impossible not to know.
He had gray hair.
He wore metal armor.
He held a sword in one hand and a shield in the other.
But… just one thing.
Those eyes, which had always burned with honor and pride, were now, unlike before, endlessly vacant.
As if only the shell had been resurrected, leaving the contents behind.
The previous Tin Knight was there.
Long after the gate closed and the angels had vanished completely.
You and Dorothea could only stand there, unable to speak for a long time.