Chapter Fifty-Seven
In an instant, countless falling stars dominated the surroundings. An imitation. Faced with a quantity too tedious to count—
“This is the middle of the city!?”
A strained voice reached me.
It was the cry of the man who had originally been targeted by the ‘Magician Hunter.’
“I’m holding back somewhat…but if I don’t, I might get killed, you see.”
So, I can’t really listen to what you’re saying, can I? I replied.
Compared to the power of ‘Falling Star, Naglfar’ that I unleashed in the city of Minaura, this was child’s play. The fact that my arms weren’t screaming in protest was proof of that.
However, in this time and place, the power of the technique didn’t matter.
And then, starlight rained down.
It began to fly indiscriminately towards the earth.
“—Found you.”
As soon as I said that, I kicked off the ground hard and began to close in.
As the man who had just raised his voice said, this was the middle of the city.
I couldn’t unleash it with the same overwhelming force as I did in Minaura.
Therefore, this ‘Falling Star, Naglfar’ was a feint. Not a decisive blow to finish him off, but simply a strike for reconnaissance.
That’s why I shouldn’t show any disappointment at the fact that some of the starlight seemed to have been shot down.
However,
“If you block, your location will be revealed, won’t it!?”
I shouted with a triumphant grin.
If there was no room to dodge, there were only two choices: take it or block it.
And if he chose the latter, it would be clear where he was, even if he was invisible.
“—Tch!! Guh!?”
The hollow sound of metal rang out. Even though there was nothing but the ordinary scenery before my eyes, a solid impact, accompanied by a groan, reached me.
However, the resistance quickly faded.
Nevertheless,
“I won’t let you escape—!!”
I wouldn’t let him retreat so easily, entangling my sword like a snake. No matter how much he tried to deceive me, the fact that he was there remained unchanged. Therefore, the attack would hit.
“Take at least one hit—‘Shooting Star’—!!!”
Even in the midst of our clash, I couldn’t unleash my full power in the city, and taking advantage of this fact, I fired off a ‘Shooting Star’ that I had no intention of fully executing.
Immediately after, the ground caved in with a cracking sound.
Even if he was invisible, if he was perceived while using ‘Perception Obstruction,’ it was meaningless.
That’s why the ‘Magician Hunter’ must have revealed his hidden form and tried to switch to another magic, but it was already too late.
For a brief moment, we were at a standstill, but I put my weight into it, forcibly pushing the ‘Magician Hunter’ forward, carrying the momentum of my approach.
“You…!!!”
As if to encourage myself, I shouted, repeating the words, “More, more, more.”
Eventually, as if he couldn’t endure it any longer, the ‘Magician Hunter,’ who had lost the effect of ‘Perception Obstruction’ and exposed his form, was blown backwards with great force.
He hit the ground several times, kicking up pebbles and sand, bouncing like a ball before crashing into a stone wall.
“‘Sword Creation.’”
I continued, chanting the name of my magic.
Once again, I created crude, knife-like weapons in my empty left hand.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa.”
…Are you serious?
The man who was about to be attacked cried out as if to say so, looking at me as I was about to launch an immediate follow-up attack, but I ignored him.
I knew better than anyone that he wouldn’t be defeated by something like that.
That’s why, without any hesitation, I threw them at where he had likely flown.
Immediately after I finished throwing, I created more.
And threw them again. Created more. After repeating this three or four times, a familiar voice shook my eardrums.
The voice seemed to be coming from behind me.
“…I see. If you can do this much at your age, it’s no wonder you’re arrogant. I can understand why you’d want to challenge anyone and everyone.”
However, I couldn’t detect any anger or even impatience in his voice, so I gritted my teeth, thinking that he was far from fatally wounded.
…He had far too many cards up his sleeve.
He had probably closed the distance with the magic he called ‘Accelerate,’ but I should assume that the speed of that magic could surpass what a person could perceive if he wanted to.
…I had a vague suspicion, but the odds were stacked against me.
“…But if that’s the case, you should understand this difference in skill.”
Why challenge me? he seemed to be asking.
The act of exchanging words was a sign of his composure. He probably wouldn’t be defeated, even if he were caught off guard. That’s why he could afford to talk.
“Ha…that’s what I’m saying. I’m fine as long as the opponent is strong. And as long as there’s a reason to fight, regardless of the difference in skill, that’s not a reason to stop.”
As I turned around, I swung my weapon, the sound of the wind whistling once, shaking my eardrums.
It seemed to have been dodged cleanly.
“But I do draw a line. I know it’s a fine line, but I don’t intend to become a spree killer… Let me tell you something. The reason I’m interfering with you is because you’re strong. And because I don’t like your ‘revenge.’ That’s why I’m swinging my sword to deny it.”
“…You don’t like it?”
“Yeah, that’s right. I heard from Zenoah. You’re taking revenge for your dead brother, right?”
“…”
I hadn’t completely believed the story I had been told, so I brought it up here to confirm its truth.
Silence was affirmation.
“Then even more so, I have to say this to you. As someone who admires the ‘Star Slayer,’ I have to say this. Listen up, ‘Magician Hunter’!! ‘Revenge’? Kuh, that’s pathetic!!!”
In an instant, goosebumps ran down my spine.
I immediately understood the reason for this phenomenon: I was being bombarded with killing intent from the ‘Magician Hunter,’ whose focus remained fixed on me.
But it didn’t matter.
“What will you gain from ‘revenge’? Satisfaction? Oh, I see, that’s the logical answer. If it’s ‘revenge’ for yourself, then it’s justified. But you’re trying to do this for your brother’s ‘revenge,’ right? Then I have to laugh. I have to laugh at how foolish you are!!”
Suddenly, a straightforward sword strike came at me. I received it with the sword in my hand. Even though I was caught off guard, I could handle a straight attack without any problems.
“If it’s ‘revenge’ for someone else, you shouldn’t disregard their will!!! Zenoah said it!? Your brother was a man of justice!! Yet, you keep killing people for his ‘revenge’!! Are you stupid!? How can I describe this other than foolish!?”
The clash of swords rang out twice, thrice, continuously. The intervals grew shorter and shorter.
However, there was no attack easier to defend against than one from someone with a hot head.
I didn’t want to preach and lecture him.
I knew better than anyone that that wasn’t my style. This wasn’t a lecture, but a forceful justification.
And because the way of life of the ‘Star Slayer’ I admired and the ‘Magician Hunter’s’ way of thinking were completely different, I spoke. Precisely because I admired him so much, I couldn’t help but speak in this situation. About the truly extraordinary life of the one who dedicated his life to the sword for his childhood friend, who lost her life after being subjected to absurdity.
“It’s ‘revenge’ for someone else!! Don’t you dare defile it with that indifferent face!!!”
The clash of swords, swinging, swinging, swinging continuously, grew more intense with time, until only the silver trails of completed swings remained in the empty air.
Once upon a time, there was a swordsman who, after abandoning the sword of his own volition, picked it up again due to a certain trigger.
The reason he picked up the sword again was because of the dying words of his childhood friend, who had been subjected to absurdity and was in critical condition. Those words were about a promise they had made in their younger days.
Because she had brought up the words of the day he vowed to become strong. Therefore, he picked up the sword again, thinking he would fulfill those words. Because he believed without a doubt that it was an offering to the deceased.
And at the same time, he was an avenger.
The one who had unilaterally taken care of him.
Even though he had only thought of her as his childhood friend, she was irreplaceable to him, and he deeply resented the absurdity that had befallen her.
That’s why, knowing that she had always wished for a peaceful world, he one day reached out to the kings of various countries.
—He wouldn’t allow acts of war against other countries, regardless of the reason.
He would carry on his dead childhood friend’s ideal and make it a reality. In an era of constant war, doing so must have been his own form of revenge.
…Therefore, I was fascinated.
Because his ideals, his thoughts, and his actions were all beautiful. Because they were clear and unclouded, I admired him. That’s why I thought I would become him. I would become the ‘Star Slayer’ that he couldn’t be. And I would prove myself the strongest.
“Oh, I can’t lose, I can’t afford to lose!! I can’t lose to someone with such a shitty way of thinking!! I’ll cut you down!!”
I screamed at will. I was just spitting out whatever came to mind, so I didn’t even know what I was saying anymore.
I didn’t think I could judge it properly.
But there was one thing I could say.
I really didn’t like this ‘Magician Hunter.’
“The opponent is stronger, so what!? Only cowards back down because their opponent is strong!! As long as I call myself a ‘Star Slayer,’ as long as there’s a reason, it doesn’t matter how big the difference in skill is!!!”
I had a vision of a high, towering wall before me.
But so what?
What kind of ‘Star Slayer’ would I be if I couldn’t break down a wall like that? Don’t make me laugh.
The clash of swords continued, and before I knew it, the ‘Magician Hunter’ was on the defensive against me, who was swinging my sword while venting my emotions.
Eventually, the ‘Magician Hunter’ bit his lower lip—and opened his mouth.
But.
“…‘Accelerate.’”
“—That’s…the second time, isn’t it!”
Like he had done earlier, I shouted.
It was obvious that it wasn’t something that could be easily dealt with just because I had seen it once. But I deliberately shouted.
I could definitely handle it.
For some reason, I could trust that baseless feeling that had welled up inside me.
And then came—a strange sensation.
It was the same strange sensation I had felt when I sparred with Lilea.
My legs suddenly felt lighter, as if I had sprouted wings.
“Shut…up—!!!”
His face contorted in rage, a desperate blow came from behind. Under normal circumstances, even if I could barely perceive it, my body wouldn’t be able to keep up, and I wouldn’t be able to react to the incoming attack…
But reality was different.
Immediately after perceiving it, my legs moved reflexively.
And I moved behind the ‘Magician Hunter,’ who was behind me.
“—Wha…”
A voice of surprise was raised.
At the unidentified something that had surpassed magic without using magic.
Even the person who used it didn’t fully understand it, but there was no time to dwell on it. And I didn’t miss the opening that was created in that instant. A fatal opening that wouldn’t even allow for a proper defense.
“This time, no holding back—”
I raised my sword, already beginning the motion. The ground would probably crack, but I couldn’t miss this opportunity. Making excuses, I unleashed the ‘Star Slayer’s’ technique.
“Be torn apart—‘Shooting Star’—!!”
[Translator – Vine]
[Proofreader – Lust]
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