Chapter 69: Purification
“Manifest, [Undine]!”
As the spirit danced and donned its [Spirit armors], the two princes dashed forward to carve out their future.
“…………”
The girl in the helmet remained unmoved. Exuding miasma from her entire body, she once again deployed her illusory blades.
“Noel, lend me your magic!”
Sensing Alfred’s intention, Noel imbued his sword with freezing magic and spun on one foot. Rotating alongside Alfred, their blades clashed. Noel then dashed straight towards the helmeted girl. Naturally, the illusory blades, mixed with real ones, rushed towards Noel all at once.
“I’m counting on you!”
“[Phantom Thief Ranma]—-[Flower Blizzard]!”
Alfred’s [Flower Blizzard] froze the swarm of blades, both real and illusory. By this point, Noel had not only closed the distance with the helmeted girl but also,
“I’ve returned your magic.”
“Received, indeed.”
The wide-range magic [Flower Blizzard] had been returned to Noel.
“At this distance, you won’t be able to dodge.”
While Alfred provided support with wide-range magic, Noel closed the distance and unleashed the returned wide-range magic at point-blank range.
“—-……!”
Realizing she couldn’t dodge, the helmeted girl attempted to negate it with jet-black ice, but,
“Too slow! [Flower Blizzard]!”
An overwhelming glacier, expelled with a single swing, engulfed the helmeted girl.
“This won’t be enough to finish you off.”
Cracks ran through the glacier. The helmeted girl, trapped inside, would soon break free.
“But—-a moment is all we need.”
“[Alvida]!”
Alfred switched spirits. He aimed his gun barrel at the forming cracks, charging it with magical power.
“[Raging Wave Cannon]!”
As if timed perfectly with the shattering of the cracks, the magic cannon assaulted the helmeted girl.
Unlike the previously guarded magic, this attack came the instant she broke Noel’s ice, leaving no time for defense.
“I can’t defeat you with my power alone…….but that’s fine.”
“—-……Tch……”
“I have comrades to carve out the future with me. For now, that’s enough.”
The helmeted girl emerged from the ice debris. However, signs of damage were visible all over her body.
“Let’s finish this!”
“Yeah. Let’s clear the path!”
As Alfred and Noel stepped forward to deliver the final blow,
“—-……!”
The blade cut through the air, and the helmeted girl vanished along with the miasma.
“Just like Lucille……!”
“……To think we’d let her escape after cornering her so much……ugh……!”
Pain shot through Noel’s entire body, forcing him to his knees.
The pain ravaging his body. His instincts told him that continuing to fight would endanger his life. Without defying this instinct, Noel quietly dissolved his [Spirit armor].
“Alfred……I’m sorry. It seems I can’t be of much help to you anymore.”
“Leave the rest to me. You take it easy and rest.”
“……I’ll do that. You hurry to your fiancée. Before you regret it.”
Nodding at Noel’s words, Alfred ran towards his fiancée.
Looking only forward. Straight towards the future.
☆
“—-RAAAAAR!”
The serpentine body, corrupted by miasma, had scales that were once white and beautiful now dyed pitch black. The dragon, unleashing black waves with its roars, was undoubtedly the [Land God]. The entity meant to protect this land, now fallen to miasma.
……It’s painful just to look at.
“Charlotte! Leave the battle with the [Land God] to us, you focus on purification!”
I might be able to purify miasma as light as the mist floating around, but the [Land God]’s contamination is severe. To purify something of that level, I need to get closer. Perhaps I should use magic to keep it at bay while approaching. But originally, all my magical power was meant for purification.
(…………This time. I will……!)
I have no choice but to somehow dodge the [Land God]’s attacks and get close. Even if I take a direct hit, in the worst case, I can instantly recover with [Recovery Bestowal]. If I keep the recovery to a minimum, I can conserve magical power.
“You should still conserve your strength.”
As if to dissuade my attempt to step forward, Loretta gently pressed on my shoulder.
“I’ll draw the [Land God]’s attention.”
“Loretta! But you……”
“True, I can’t wield a sword, but drawing attention shouldn’t be a problem.”
Perhaps to reassure me, she smiled gently in the face of danger.
“Besides—-the chance to fight a [Land God] is normally unthinkable.”
Loretta’s entire body glowed with enhancement magic. She must be adding more magical power to increase the output of what she had already activated.
“How delightful.”
She leaped. Kicking off the ground, lightly.
“——–RAAAAAR!”
The moment Loretta sprang forth, the [Land God] roared. Trembling with anger, as if scattering its fury.
Instantly, a barrage of scorching heat targeted her. The [Land God]’s fierce attacks, as if it had lost all reason, were directed solely at Loretta.
However, Loretta dodged the onslaught by a hair’s breadth, as if dancing, seemingly unfazed.
It’s almost as if this ruins had transformed into a ballroom.
“Now, while you have the chance!”
“…………Ah! Yes!”
I had been captivated by Loretta’s graceful movements.
The [Land God] is now completely focused on Loretta, full of openings. During this time, I easily close the distance to the [Land God].
“At this distance……! Here I go!”
I concentrate. Gathering all my magical power, I pour it into this spell……!
“[Purification Bestowal]!”
A silvery radiance. I infuse the [Land God] with light that transforms evil.
“——–RAAAAAR……!”
“Ugh……! The resistance is……too strong……!”
As if rejecting the radiance, the [Land God] screams, and the miasma tries to push back.
As expected, with my power alone, at this rate, I’ll be overwhelmed.
But. However. I can’t afford to be pushed back.
Everyone is taking on the dangerous role of diversion to allow me to reach this point, to conserve my strength.
“Please……give me a push……!”
I don’t want to experience that feeling of helplessness again. I hate being unable to do anything, just watching.
Now is the time to activate the trump card Alfred gave me before this purification operation!
“—-[Sublimation]!”
Fragments of magical power swirl and dance like flower petals.
The high-level magic left behind by Netos, Eline’s best friend.
Magic that enhances magic. This will boost my lacking purification power……!
“Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!”
I continue to pour in all my remaining magical power as if wringing it out, and an enormous amount of miasma transforms into holy energy in an instant.
The radiance filling the surroundings dyes my vision and—-…….
“—-Ah……!”
As the purification breaks off, I fall backward as if losing support.
“Hah……Hah……Hah……!”
This is bad. The purification. It stopped. The Land God. Failed. Once more. As many times as it takes. Absolutely……!
“Calm down.”
“Loret……ta……”
It was Loretta who gently enveloped my hand, as if to comfort me.
“Look.”
“Ah…………”
As prompted, I turn my face, and there stands the majestic figure of the land’s guardian deity.
As if the previous violence and evil power were a lie, it’s now wrapped in holy energy.
“Thanks to you, the [Land God] has been saved. You did well.”
“Then…………”
“Yes. The purification was successful.”
Perhaps because the tension broke with Loretta’s words, fatigue suddenly washed over my body.
“Thank goodness…………”
“You performed splendidly, Charlotte. You did well on your own.”
“No… I wasn’t alone. It was thanks to everyone in the diversion team, and especially Loretta, who drew their attention. By myself, I couldn’t have possibly…”
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Despite having just narrowly avoided the Land God, Loretta showed no signs of fatigue. It’s no wonder she’s said to be as capable as Luce.
That’s why it’s such a shame. That she lost her path as a swordswoman.
“But that last purification was particularly intense.”
“Ah, that wasn’t my power… it was thanks to this magic ring.”
The [Sublimation] magic ring that Al entrusted to me.
Without it, I couldn’t have achieved the purification.
“I see. So that’s…”
“…?”
Loretta’s gaze was filled with interest… no, not interest. Something else entirely.
Her hand, which should have been gently enveloping mine, touched [Sublimation] and—
“—!”
Sensing danger, Loretta leaped back, distancing herself from me.
In an instant, a streak of light. A flash of purple lightning races between Loretta and me.
“Electrically safe, I suppose.”
“You are…”
With a grand and imposing stride, that person entered, leaving a rough yet flashy hole in the ruins’ wall.
“Luce-sama!”
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’m glad you’re safe, Charl.”
Luce gives an elegant and charming wink. But I still can’t wrap my head around this.
“L-Luce?! I was so worried when you suddenly disappeared…”
“So that’s how it is. You thought you’d buried me and could say whatever you wanted… right?”
Luce’s sharp gaze turns to the person who was just targeted by the purple lightning.
“—Loretta.”
“Huh…?”
This look in Luce’s eyes. This intimidating aura. It’s unmistakably directed at an enemy.
But that enemy is… Loretta.
“…I’m surprised. I thought I had caught you off guard with a slash, inflicting a deep wound. And then crushed you with all the flames and rubble I could muster.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. As if something like that could kill me.”
“Well, well. You’re as tough as ever. I really thought I’d killed you… Ah, that’s good. It means I can crush you with my own hands. That’s truly delightful.”
I don’t understand. The meaning behind the words exchanged between Loretta and Luce.
“…What’s going on? Loretta, you…!”
No. I do understand the meaning of Loretta’s words. I just don’t want to believe it.
“What’s going on, you ask? Well, of course—it’s this.”
Her eyes glowed ominously, and an explosive miasma erupted from her entire body.
Seeing Loretta enveloped in a jet-black aura, an image of Lucille flashes through my mind.
“That’s… the same as… Lucille…”
“Yes. My power and hers are similar… No. Delightfully, they share the same origin. After all, she is my sister… Ah, of course, I don’t mean as a member of the Garland family. Well, I think you understand without me explaining.”
Loretta smiles eerily, forming a sword from the miasma in her right hand.
“Now then, Charlotte. Let’s have you hand over [Sublimation]. That magic ring is, unfortunately, a very dangerous item.”
“…!”
“Though I know you won’t hand it over quietly. Lucille might scold me, but… I’ll have to be a bit forceful. I’ll take it even if I have to hurt you. Don’t worry. You should be glad… I won’t take your precious life… Okay!”
In a flash, she swings her sword, releasing a miasma-infused slash.
It’s a beautifully eerie strike, hard to believe it’s from someone who supposedly lost her path as a swordswoman.
Defend. Impossible. I’ve used up all my magic power. Dodging is difficult too. The purification has drained my physical strength. This will… hit me directly…!
“Charl! Ugh…!”
Luce, who tried to shield me in an instant, falls to her knees in pain.
Her clothes reveal a red stain, and blood drips to the ground.
“—[Raging Wave Cannon]!”
A magic bullet neutralizes the miasma slash that was accurately targeting me.
The jet-black magical powers collide and scatter into fragments. Then, as if to protect me, a black shadow descends.
“Are you alright, Charl!”
“A-Al!”
Al, who rushed to the scene, points his gun at Loretta while quickly assessing the situation with a glance. He shoots a hostile look at Loretta.
“…I don’t know why, but I guess it’s safe to say you’ve betrayed us?”
“No? That’s not my intention at all. After all, you were never allies to me in the first place.”
“So you’re saying you were an enemy from the start, damn it.”
“From the start… that’s not quite right either. While I’m delightfully my mother’s daughter now, until recently, I was a daughter of the Garland family.”
“…Are you kidding me?”
“See for yourself with your own eyes. A new family member should be joining us today.”
Miasma forms in the space next to Loretta. From the swirling jet-black whirlwind, the mastermind behind the incident in the royal capital gracefully appears.
“Right? —Lucille.”
“Yes. To borrow your sentiment, I’d say it’s ‘delightful’.”
Lucille, who emerged from the darkness, is bleeding heavily from her right shoulder. She’s undoubtedly severely injured and doesn’t seem able to heal herself immediately. If a battle were to break out, Lucille wouldn’t get off easy either.
Loretta said a new family member would join them.
If that’s the case, Lucille shouldn’t be the only one who appeared here. It’s natural to think she brought companions. Even now, a mysterious figure remains shrouded in a veil of darkness.
“As you can see, I’m in no condition to fight. So I’ve decided to have my sister fight in my place. Fufu… I’m sure you’ll all be pleased to meet her.”
“—…!”
The miasma clears. The jet-black veil dissipates, and long chestnut hair sways. I gasp at the sight of the small girl who appears.
“Nenel-chan…?”
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