I can’t help but wonder what sort of thing an iron ball is for an angel’s initial attack, but if the iron ball is attached to chains that restrict both hands, then it might be reasonable to wield it as a weapon, so I prepare myself to deal with it.
Judging from the spirit’s wound earlier, I expected a much more intense battle, but the angel’s attack is more lenient than I anticipated.
I track the iron ball, which crushes the air as it flies, with my eyes. I don’t believe that an iron ball, which is supposed to restrain an angel, is honestly made of iron. I judge that simply repelling such a thing with my Ore Tree would damage the blade, so I prioritize evasion for now.
My evolved Ore Tree might be able to split it in half, but I don’t have enough information to act on speculation.
An incessant rain of iron balls, swung with both hands, relentlessly attacks to avoid entanglement.
While dashing through the gaps, the short chains on the floating angel’s feet whip out like a lash, preventing me from closing the distance with my Ore Tree.
I can’t quite tell if the angel can’t use magic or simply chooses not to, as only physical attacks have been used so far.
There must be at least one attack method equivalent to an explosion, or something close to it.
I can’t possibly believe that the iron ball caused that explosion earlier.
“Not enough magic? No, it’s being restricted.”
Fighting an opponent from a lower position to a higher one is disadvantageous due to the increased power from gravity acceleration, but there are also advantages.
While a downward swing is certainly powerful when targeting a low enemy, it conversely requires an upward swing.
During that time, less than a split second.
While observing the opening during the upward swing, I notice that the restraints are primarily intended to suppress magic power. They’ve even gone so far as to apply restraints to the palms to prevent the wearer from removing them, thereby limiting their freedom.
Even so, the faint presence of magic power is probably because the opponent possesses a considerable amount of it.
“How many of your five senses remain? Sight and hearing are blocked.”
As the sound of the iron ball whizzing past my ear echoes, I gauge the distance with my sense of touch and adjust my evasion, thinking I can get a little closer.
“Only touch remains? Taste shouldn’t be of any use. But how can you pinpoint my location so accurately?”
While muttering to myself and organizing the information, I gauge the distance to the opponent and look for an opportunity to strike. I hold the Ore Tree over my right shoulder, occasionally deflecting only the iron balls that I can’t evade.
“The power… if it hits, it’ll crush bone.”
I gauge the general power from the impact transmitted through the deflection, and I can tell that even with armor, it wouldn’t be survivable. For a moment, I feel a chill, realizing my Ore Tree might break if I don’t deflect it properly, but I tell myself to stay calm and fix my gaze on the angel.
Speed can be dealt with.
Power, if I’m hit, cannot.
If magic is sealed, I only need to be wary.
“Then…”
With a certain amount of information gathered, I search for the best move in the current situation.
Immediate decision, immediate execution, immediate action.
I deliver the strongest attack I can muster, with the fastest and greatest force, to the opponent.
“This is the best! Let’s go, partner!! I’m going all out!!”
I grip the hilt of the Ore Tree tightly and channel magic power into it. The roots of the Ore Tree snake around my arm, forming a circuit for magic power circulation. The pale green circulation begins, and the Ore Tree’s sharpness and strength increase dramatically. As if reacting to this, the opponent’s magic power, which had been quiet until then, suddenly overflows as if a faucet had been forcibly opened.
“Kahaha, as I suspected, you were also being cautious!!”
Magic power erupts like a forcibly opened tap, and the angel’s surroundings are instantly filled with a yellow light. We were both hiding our true capabilities. The moment I decide to go all out, the opponent reveals their means to defeat me. I can’t help but laugh at this. With the Ore Tree, whose blade has slightly extended due to the magic power, in one hand, I charge at the angel with the maximum speed I can currently muster.
“Kaa! How hard!!”
The first strike, as I step forward, evading the iron ball and chain at full speed, feels hard. The vibrating sensation of impact. I didn’t think I could cut it, but I certainly didn’t expect it to be blocked by a magic barrier.
“Raa!!”
Even so, I didn’t think it *couldn’t* be cut. The opponent isn’t at their best either. The barrier itself is hard, but not impossibly so. I increase the magic power circulation further, boosting the speed and power of my sword strikes.
“Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!”
A storm of full-powered slashes, accompanied by a primal roar. An offensive to annihilate, using offense as the greatest defense. If one were to enter this blade storm with their bare body, I’m confident they’d be minced in an instant. I prevent them from casting magic, fix them in a defensive posture, and bring down the blade of the Ore Tree, as if scraping away at that defense.
“…”
Amidst it all, I somehow felt our gazes meet. Even though I shouldn’t have been able to see their face through the mask, our eyes certainly met.
“Ngh!”
And then, their movements stopped abruptly. Because of that, I too stopped my attack. A clear opening, a moment where I would have undoubtedly taken a blow if I had been exploited.
“…”
“…”
But the angel, surprisingly, did nothing, their previous attack a lie. It’s strange to feel a gaze through a mask, but the angel before me was undeniably looking at me.
“…Seriously, what do you want me to do?”
The hostility that was present moments ago has vanished. Is it disillusionment? If the opponent has lost the will to fight, I can’t muster the will to fight either. It’s strange for them to attack and then suddenly become quiet. I keep my Ore Tree ready just in case, but I think I’ll be alright.
“Ah, ah, u…”
“Huh?”
After a minute, or perhaps ten, we stared at each other. Then, a change occurred. The angel, who had been silent, spoke. Their voice, muffled by the mask, was incomprehensible, but they seemed to be trying to convey something. Their hands, covered by restraints, moved to the mask, unable to grasp anything.
“You want to take it off?”
With that gesture, I understand what the angel before me wants, but I hesitate to help them. They are an enemy, after all. Releasing an opponent who has me in a slightly advantageous position, even as a joke, is out of the question.
“…”
However, seeing them desperately trying to remove the mask right in front of me makes it seem like there’s clearly a reason for it.
“Ah! I get it! I get it! So stop handling a woman’s face so roughly!”
Seeing the way they increasingly rougher handled the mask, I had no choice but to give in. Their physique suggests they are a woman. I can’t see their face, but it’s unbearable to watch them try to rip off the mask with such force, as if they were about to strike. I sheathe my Ore Tree. I walk up and take the angel’s right hand. Just that is enough to calm the angel, and they turn their gaze to me. Their expectant gaze makes me stifle a sigh.
“Geez, why do things always get so troublesome… I’m supposed to be collecting materials for marriage, right?”
Lamenting why they won’t let me collect them peacefully, I look at the restraints on their nearby hand. Connected to the wrist is a metal ring, followed by a chain and an iron ball. Their entire body is covered in a tightly woven black fabric. The belt near their waist is torn, implying that their hands were likely secured there originally.
“Is it a magic crest? This…”
Looking at the restraints, I notice a faint, vein-like flow of magic power on its surface. It’s a type I recognize, very similar to the magic crests I have. A magic crest is a path for receiving and releasing magic power. Using it for restraint clothing means…
“…I see.”
I have a general idea of the restraint method used on the fully black-clad, chain-bound angel, but can I do anything about it?
“First, I’ll cut the chains.”
I’ll start by dealing with the chains, which seem easier to remove. I reconnect with my Ore Tree and step back. I didn’t get the impression from clashing with my Ore Tree earlier that it couldn’t cut them, so they probably can be cut. My only worry is whether the angel will react and perceive the action of cutting the chains as an attack… Hesitating slightly, I decide to just go for it and slowly raise my Ore Tree. The angel just looks at me and does nothing. Even though changing the direction of the swing would undoubtedly take the angel’s life, they do nothing.
“Stay still.”
Their gesture reassures me, but it’s also somewhat unsettling. I have no intention of attacking, but there’s no reason for me to be trusted so much. After the previous exchange, what made this angel trust me enough to leave themselves in my hands? I try to stare into the angel’s face, wondering why, but they only meet my gaze through the mask, showing no other reaction. Deciding not to think too deeply about it, I take a deep breath and begin circulating magic. As the connection with the Ore Tree begins and the magic blade is formed, I swing the Ore Tree down four times. The sound of metal being cut echoes several times. Immediately after, the chains hit the ground, and the sound resonates in the surroundings. From the feel, I already knew it, but seeing them fall to the ground brings a sigh of relief. The chains on their limbs have been successfully cut, and the angel is now more agile. Though I don’t know if they can see it, their gesture of looking at their hands through the mask seems to confirm that they feel more agile.
“It’s heavy…”
I try picking up one of the iron balls that has been cut off and lies on the ground, but despite being only about the size of a bowling ball, it’s quite heavy. I immediately understand that iron with this density couldn’t produce this weight. Honestly, without body reinforcement, it would be impossible to lift. If they dragged this around, they must possess incredible strength.
“Now, about the mask… how should I take it off?”
If there were a zipper, it would be simple, but there’s no zipper, not even a seam in sight. Honestly, I want to give up, as if it were sewn on after being put on. But I can’t say that to the angel staring intently at me.
“Haa, a training instructor could probably cut just the clothes… but…”
I have no choice but to silently examine the restraint clothing. I’m examining a woman’s body, and quite a stylish one at that, so close up, yet I feel no sensuality – perhaps it’s because we were just fighting. It’s convenient, so I’m examining it without thinking too much about it, but I have no idea about the magic. I thought about pulling the clothing to create a gap and cutting it, but unfortunately, this restraint clothing is completely inelastic, so that’s impossible. It feels like leather, but it fits the body too perfectly. And my examination is complete. What stands out among it all is…
“As expected, it’s this.”
What catches my eye is a padlock-like object at the center of the angel’s chest. It has no keyhole and initially looks like an ornamental object, but there’s nothing else suspicious, so by elimination, this must be the key to the restraint clothing.
“Should I cut it?”
At this size, I could probably cut it off with the Ore Tree, but I can only answer that I don’t know if cutting it will release the restraint. However, other than damaging the angel’s body, I can’t think of any other method.
“Please don’t complain if it doesn’t come off.”
To the angel, who silently entrusts themselves to the unfolding situation, I decide I have no choice but to proceed. I step back a little. Taking a deep, focused breath, I hold my breath.
“Fun!!”
I swing the Ore Tree horizontally, being careful not to injure the angel. I feel a sure resistance at the tip of the blade. Two types of resistance: material resistance and magical resistance. I feel the sensation of cutting through both, and I hear the sound of metal falling to the ground.
“It hit.”
I vaguely felt like I was correct when I cut it, and my intuition wasn’t wrong. A spark of static-like magic ran through it, and then the restraint clothing transformed, dripping. The restraint clothing, which had a leather-like appearance, now transformed into a dripping, mud-like substance, falling off the angel’s body. Beneath the black restraint clothing, white skin is revealed, and in a chain reaction, the restraints on two of the three pairs of sealed wings are also released. A golden-haired woman emerges, spreading her three pairs of wings with a sense of liberation and looks at me. Her clear blue eyes, like sapphires, gaze directly at me. The angel, dignified and befitting the word “knight,” slightly distorts her beautiful features, smiles, and speaks.
“Hero, you have liberated me well. I thank you.”
“No, you’ve got the wrong person.”
I immediately reply to her words. It goes without saying that I almost ruined the mood by saying I wasn’t the one she was looking for.
“Also, for now, put this on.”
And as the restraint clothing dissolved, it wasn’t just the wings that were freed, but her limbs as well. With her body exposed without shame, she boldly faces me. I avert my eyes and offer her the mantle.
Today’s word:
It’s better to correct misunderstandings early.
That’s all for today.
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