Chapter 56: The End of the Magic Sword

To erase the [Shadow Legion], strong light is needed. But there are no light magic users here. Fire seems to make them flinch too, but I doubt the fireworks sold at the candy store would have much effect… I feel like the knights would be more startled. Ah, using a mirror to reflect sunlight… wait, it’s cloudy. Mumumu… no, wait…? That’s right, I had that! I took that out from my pochette enchanted with storage magic. I’m glad I threw various things in there.

“What’s that? Some kind of magic tool?” “Something like that. With this, I think I can temporarily erase the [Shadow Legion].” “Such a magic tool exists?”

Julia, who was next to Balay-san, also stared at the object in my hand in surprise.

“But even if we find ‘Discord’, unless we destroy the jewel which is its weakness, it will just repeat…”

To defeat that thing, we have to find where the jewel is on its body and destroy it. If we dawdle, the [Shadow Legion] will be summoned again. I guess I have no choice but to raise the Holy Sword’s physical enhancement boost further. How many days will I have muscle pain…? I casually handed the item I took out from my pochette to Estelle—pon.

“Estelle. Move a little away from here, and when I signal, do this with this…”

I explain the simple usage of that to Estelle. I’ve already done the settings, so she just has to press the button. I won’t do a test because there’s a risk of alerting the opponent if they find out. It’s a one-shot deal.

“Eh, umm, yes. Understood.”

Nodding, Estelle moves slightly backward away from us. It will involve the knights a little, but if it erases the shadow knights, it shouldn’t be dangerous.

“The problem is where the jewel is on the Black Knight’s body…”

That jewel sucks up magic elements from the air as its power source. So I think it’s somewhere exposed to the outside air, but… Bottom of the foot? No, it would be meaningless if he stepped on it himself.

“Hmm…” “Umm, Lady Sakuraile! Could you entrust that role to me!?” “Bianca?”

While I was pondering, Bianca stepped forward and volunteered.

“If I use ‘Ensemble’s’ power, I can track the Black Knight’s movements in detail. I will definitely find it with my eyes, so Lady Sakuraile, please finish him off!”

With ‘Ensemble’s’ power? According to Bianca, using ‘Ensemble’s’ power makes the opponent’s movements look slow. I see, so that’s why her movements suddenly improved in the match earlier. Estelle erases the [Shadow Legion], Bianca finds the jewel, and I smash it. Cooperation by everyone. Alright, let’s do it!

“Understood. Let’s go with that.”

I shouldn’t raise the gear of Holy Sword Mode until Bianca finds the jewel. If it takes time for Bianca to find it, there’s a possibility my stamina will run out first. Bianca and I stood with our backs to Estelle, keeping the [Shadow Legion] fighting the knights in our field of view. From here, wherever they are should be obvious at a glance.

“Estelle, now!” “Yes!”

Basha! Intense light is released from the ‘strobe’ Estelle holds. To think a strobe without a camera found at the pawn shop would be useful. By the way, I bought the batteries sold at the fashion center register. Bathed in that dazzling light that can flash even by itself, the [Shadow Legion] that were fighting just a moment ago vanished all at once—shuwa—as if melting into the air. Continuously at regular intervals—Basha! Basha!—the strobe flashes.

“Ugh!?” “What!?” “Bright…!”

Small screams leak from the knights caught in the crossfire. Even the Grand Master got caught up. I’m sorry, please endure it a little! Umm…

“Over there!”

Spotting the Black Knight who hadn’t disappeared in the corner of the arena, I dash out at once. Bianca should be following from behind. While we have the chance, I’ll…

“Hah!”

The Black Knight nimbly dodges my slash with the Holy Sword. Perhaps fearing being cut, he doesn’t attack from his side. If we dawdle, the erased [Shadow Legion] will come out from the shadows again. I swing the Holy Sword in quick succession—two, three strikes—but they are dodged by a hair’s breadth. Damn it, I should have practiced swordsmanship a bit more seriously! No, my role is to keep him occupied. While I do that, if Bianca finds the position of the jewel…! Looking quickly, it doesn’t seem to be on the front of the body. Then is it the back after all? But Bianca, who is staring at him over the Black Knight’s back, doesn’t show any reaction of having found it. Not the back either? Don’t tell me it’s on top of the head, the crown!? If it’s there, there’s no way to confirm with my height. Should I jump up and check, sink or swim? With my current jumping power, I think I can do it.

“Yaa!”

Thinking he’d dodge anyway, I slashed at the Black Knight while jumping up more than three meters. Visually confirming the Black Knight from the air. The jewel on the crown visible for an instant is… not there? Towards me, whose prediction was wrong, the Black Knight pointed his sword tip. Ah, bad! Black lightning runs from the sword tip, assaulting me in the air. Reflexively holding up the Holy Sword, the black lightning was split, and I managed to defend, but I fell straight to the ground on my back. My breath stopped for a moment from the impact and pain on my back. I jumped too high…! Seeing that as a chance, the Black Knight slashes at me for the first time.

“Watch out!”

Just as I twisted my body trying to dodge somehow, Julia jumped in front of me and deflected the Black Knight’s sword. Close call…! That saved me…! Julia slashes into the Black Knight. The Black Knight was blocking all of those quick continuous sword lines. Does he possess power equal to Julia, said to be the strongest in the frontier? No wonder my attacks don’t hit.

“Kuh…!”

In the midst of the exchange, the sword Julia held chipped with a pakiri. As expected, a normal sword cannot match a Magic Sword. at this rate, Julia will be overpowered. My stamina is also close to the limit. Should I raise the gear of physical enhancement and switch to offense, sink or swim? But if I don’t smash the jewel, I’ll end up collapsing from stamina exhaustion anyway. I have no choice but to buy time until Bianca finds it…!

“Lady Sakuraile! Under the right armpit!”

While I was agonizing, Bianca’s voice flew over. You found it! Nice timing! Under the right armpit? Checking the spot Bianca mentioned, it’s hidden by the arm and hard to see, but there is certainly something red. This guy…! Hiding it in such a place! Now that I know the location, I’ll go full power from here.

“Farnese!”

As if responding to my call, the power of the Holy Sword rushed through my whole body at once. Receiving the benefit of the further jumped-up physical enhancement, I approached the Black Knight clashing with Julia in an instant, and flashed the Holy Sword aiming at the jewel under the right armpit. Sensing danger, the Black Knight pulled back. By a hair’s breadth, the sword tip grazed the jewel. So close! Was my step-in weak! But next time I won’t miss! Further pursuing the fleeing Black Knight, I try to deliver a sure-kill blow this time. As if trying to prevent that, black lightning scattered in all directions from the Black Knight’s whole body.

“You little…! Give it up already!”

I slice through the lightning with the Holy Sword. I slash further towards the Black Knight beyond the sliced lightning, but there is no jewel under that right armpit. Moved? No, this isn’t the Black Knight! It looks similar, but this is a [Shadow Legion]! Did he switch places during the lightning strike! I swing the Holy Sword through, cutting down the [Shadow Legion]. Where is the real Black Knight…!?

“Lady Sakuraile! Behind you!”

Reflexively turning around at Bianca’s voice, the Black Knight standing a little distance away was just about to release a lightning strike from the tip of ‘Discord’ toward me. Bad. I can’t dodge this. What to do…! That’s it!

“[Store Summoning]!”

In front of my eyes—Don!—a kitchen car appears in an instant. The lightning strike released by the Black Knight was blocked by the kitchen car and didn’t reach me. How’s that! Store Barrier! Immediately sending back the kitchen car, I jump with full force toward the Black Knight standing dumbfounded in front of me. The Black Knight, delayed in reacting to the kitchen car that suddenly appeared and disappeared, tried to dodge in a panic, but it was too late. My sword swing speed is also enhanced to a different level, you know. Without any mercy, I swing the Holy Sword through. Without missing the aim, the blade of the Holy Sword caught the Black Knight’s jewel and smashed it to pieces. Pan! With momentum as if exploding, the red jewel under the Black Knight’s right armpit scattered vigorously. In an instant, along with a swirl of dazzling iridescent light, the black armor peeled off as mist from the possessed knight and headed toward the sky. Eventually, along with a voice like a suffering grudge, it dissolved into the air and vanished. The knight who was the match referee collapsed on the spot—batari—and beside him, ‘Discord’ with its shattered jewel fell—karan. Pakira, cracks ran through the entire ‘Discord’, and the cursed Magic Sword shattered all too easily.

“She did it! Lady Sakuraile won!”

At Bianca’s joyful voice, I sighed in relief and felt strength draining from my whole body. Good grief, managed somehow… A ray of light shone through the sky where dark clouds had gathered, and a refreshing breeze drove the ominous clouds far away. Cheers of people overflowing with joy echoed around.

“You did it, young lady.” “Balay-san.”

Balay-san, carrying a battle axe, speaks to me.

“With this, that foolish disciple will reflect a little in the other world too. That a Magic Sword relying on the power of a curse has no value whatsoever.”

Balay-san, saying such things while staring at the shattered ‘Discord’, looked just a little lonely to me.

“Oi! Hurry, a stretcher!”

Worried about the fallen referee knight, colleague knights are gathering. The Holy Sword is like a part of me, and what to cut or not cut is my freedom. I intended to smash only the jewel, but perhaps the bone is at least cracked. It would be better to have a doctor or healing magic user examine him properly. Ah, if I ask Estelle, maybe she can heal him… Just as I thought that, my vision suddenly distorted. The world spins around and flies upward. No, wrong. Am I falling? My body won’t obey. Like a great tree being cut down, my body just falls.

“Lady Sakuraile!?”

The next moment after thinking I heard Estelle’s voice close to a scream, along with the impact of collapsing on the ground, my consciousness cut off abruptly.