The two knights expelled black auras from the gaps in their armor and slowly approached. Honestly, they weren’t human at all.
One held a Buster Sword and a shield, while the other held a mace and a shield. Neither weapon was something to be wielded with one hand, and their shields were large enough to cover half of their bodies. I doubted whether I could block a mace with a shield, let alone a Buster Sword.
The Buster Sword user moved first. They approached while using their left-hand shield to cover their body. My initial thought was to either push them back with my shield or block a strike before countering with my Buster. I decided to play along.
I drove my Black Sword into the shield held by the Buster Sword user, stopping their movement, deflected their sword strike with my own shield, and aimed for the gap in their armor. I managed to stop their shield, a job well done. However, I hadn’t anticipated that the Buster Sword in their right hand would arc to the left of their left hand.
Was it a miracle or a cheat that I managed to dodge? My hair, caught by the Buster Sword, snapped with a sound as it passed just above my head, making me think of hair growth treatments before it was too late.
I created distance before the second strike could land, but that was truly a close call. I touched the back of my head to reassure myself that I wasn’t bald.
“To dodge that is quite something. A normal opponent would have lost their head by now.”
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t assume you could take my head with such a meager attack.”
“Then, shall we get a little more serious?”
I shouldn’t have said that. There was still more? If that’s the case, I’ll unleash my full cheat! I’ll accelerate as far as I can!
However, those arms were terrifying. They seemed to attack from anywhere, ignoring length and joints. Was that large shield meant more for concealing their swordplay than for defense?
The mace user attacked from my left rear. I stepped in, and their armored arm, connected by a black aura, whipped towards me like a lash.
I was surprised last time, but now that I can see it, I can deal with it. Don’t underestimate a Godspeed cheat user!
The mace narrowly missed and dug into the floor. Seeing an opening, I swung at the black aura, but the Buster Sword user hit me with their large shield. Of course, I dodged. I wouldn’t lose in terms of speed alone.
When I tried to lunge for the Buster Sword user’s neck while they were off balance, they desperately blocked my thrust with their shield as they fell, and my left hand went numb.
The mace user advanced their shield. Their mace was still stuck in the floor. I decided to block it with my own shield.
With a clash of our shields, I was blown away. To send me, who wasn’t exactly light, flying like that… what power!
As I flew towards the wall, the mace user swung their weapon down from above, aiming to pursue me. I tried to deflect it with my shield, but it was a failure. Perhaps I couldn’t deflect it completely, as a searing pain, not just numbness, echoed in my arm. My shield was also ruined by a single blow.
It might not be a tall shield, but it should have held up against one or two mace strikes. Honestly, I’d have to send Rufina a bill later. And of course, if she had no cash, I’d be willing to accept payment in kind.
My broken shield was no longer useful. I discarded it casually and drew a Big Knife from my waist. Two weapons were indeed better. Maybe I should have Orietta make me the same weapons as Alana.
Alana would be happy if I got matching weapons, and maintenance would be easier. On the other hand, I’d probably get shot by Sophia… …Scratch that idea.
With two weapons, there’s only one thing to do! Full attack! I closed the distance with the mace user and slashed horizontally with my Black Sword. They blocked it with their shield, but I kicked off it, leaving myself momentarily defenseless. I thrust my left-hand knife towards their chest.
But, from the corner of my left eye, I saw the mace user’s elbow guard return, guided by black mist. The moment I saw it, I stopped all my attacks and crouched down.
The mace passed over my head. As expected, they self-destructed with their own mace! Did they send it knowing they’d be hit? These guys must not feel fear or pain. Feints wouldn’t work, so I’d have to rely on brute force.
As I swung my Black Sword down to finish off the mace user, the Buster Sword user interfered. These two knights had excellent coordination. Almost as good as me and Pushirira? No, back then I was the one adapting to Pushirira.
“This is quite entertaining. If you die, I’ll make you one of my undead.”
As expected of Rufina’s master. Necromancers all love corpses, don’t they? But I didn’t want to be used even after death.
“When I die, I just want to rest in peace.”
“Hahaha, popular people can’t rest easy so easily.”
“I have one question…”
“It’s not over yet… Well, asking a question is fine, I suppose. Go ahead.”
I wasn’t trying to make small talk, I just needed to catch my breath. Breaking the coordination of these two knights was proving difficult. By the time they turned to face each other again, they were back in their original positions.
“Is Rufina here?”
“She is here. I am treating her with respect, or so I believe.”
That’s all I needed to know. I’ll kill him and find Rufina. It’s that simple. The simplicity makes it a brute force approach. Am I becoming like Pushirira?
I took a breath and took up my dual weapons. I held the Black Sword behind me with a standard grip, and thrust the Big Knife forward with a reverse grip. I’d deflect with my left hand and take the head with the Black Sword!
Using feints to the left and right, I made the Buster Sword user hesitate on which one to attack first, and then lunged at him.
I swept my knife upwards between his shield and Buster Sword, but it only grazed his armor. He struck me with his large shield. While dodging, I swung my Black Sword, severing the arm that held the large shield from the bicep.
Don’t underestimate the sharpness of my Black Sword. Even off-balance, I can exert enough force to lop off an arm.
The mace user swung their mace, threatening me. I picked up the Buster Sword user’s large shield and used it to block. Parrying the impact, I swung my Black Sword from the mace user’s side towards their chest.
Normally, this would have been the end. One had lost an arm, and the other was spilling their entrails.
I created distance but it was no use. They showed no concern about being mortally wounded. It seems I’ll have to reduce them to absolute scraps.
“C-Captain…”
A voice I recognized. I immediately looked up, to the right of the terrace where the Marquis was. They were weakly clutching the handrail, dressed in the familiar black robes, but their entire body was wrapped in bandages, with blood seeping through in places.
“Rufina…”
The bandages covering Rufina’s entire body, with only her eyes visible and unharmed, showed how badly she had been wounded… So it was you… You did this to Rufina. Vincent Rutland!
Before I knew it, Marquis Rutland’s head was flying through the air, my Black Sword tightening around it. Rutland’s head flew to the knights’ feet, and simultaneously, the knights of black mist collapsed, leaving only their armor behind.
“Rufina, I’ve come to pick you up.”
Rufina’s feet, clinging to the handrail, were trembling, and she could barely stand. Even more concerning was the blood-soaked black bandage covering her entire body, seemingly poisoning her.
“Father!”
Chichiu-e!? Tits-u-e? Who’s Chichiu-e?
Rufina’s gaze wasn’t on me. It was directed at Marquis Rutland, who had collapsed, his head no longer attached.
Could it be… I’ve stepped on a major landmine? I thought Vincent Rutland was Rufina’s master and was imprisoning her for some reason, so I killed him, but… Was it a huge misunderstanding!?
“Father. It’s rude to the guests to sleep for so long.”
Huh? Marquis Rutland’s body sat up with a jolt, and his severed head flew through the air.
“My, my, I couldn’t do anything because of your incredible speed. Truly inhuman.”
The voice of Rutland, his head floating in the air, disconnected from his body, spoke even though he couldn’t breathe. This was beyond gore; it was fantasy. A mage who could do anything!
“Allow me to introduce myself again. I am Marquis Vincent Rutland.”
Marquis Rutland greeted me after his head had been properly reattached to his body. It felt like a strange fantasy, being introduced by someone I thought I had killed by decapitating them.
“M-Mikael Sin. Captain of the White Lily Corps.”
Marquis Rutland firmly gripped my hand in a handshake, but his right arm detached at the elbow, causing me to involuntarily let go.
“Father. Please stop with your jokes.”
“Hahaha! Amusing, very amusing!”
I couldn’t deal with his penchant for jokes. I scooped up the swaying Rufina, changing the subject.
“Could you deal with the undead outside? There’s no reason to fight any longer.”
“No need for that~. It seems the outside is finished too.”
Charge! Pushirira at the forefront, followed by the White Lily Corps, burst through the door.
“Who’s next! Come at me!”
Priscilla, still catching her breath after clearing out the Cerberus and all the undead outside, looked a little scary as she shouted. There won’t be a next time. I’ve secured Rufina, and Marquis Vincent Rutland doesn’t seem to be an enemy.
“I will be your next opponent!”
Don’t say unnecessary things. The moment everyone’s eyes fell on the injured Rufina, Marquis Rutland’s chest pulsed, and he vomited blood. A platinum laser sliced Rutland in half from head to toe, Orietta’s great hammer was thrown head-on, and Pushirira and Alana cut off Rutland’s head with fiery speed.
A sigh escaped me. I’ve killed him.
“Everyone, please calm down. We’ve secured Rufina, and this Marquis Rutland is Rufina’s father.”
It was too late. But the Marquis was the one who got carried away. Besides…
“Wow, I thought I was going to die.”
His scattered body parts floated in the air, trying to reform. Why wouldn’t this guy die?
“W-What is this guy…?”
Pushirira, I felt the same way many times. Do Necromancers in this world not die? He’s not human anymore.
“Amusing, truly exhilarating. You are spirited young ladies, I thank you.”
To thank us for killing him, his eccentric idea, befitting Rufina’s father, was beyond me.
“Oh, Rufina-chan is being carried princess-style~? How unfair~.”
I was grateful to Orietta, who, despite her robe making it hard to see, brought up the topic of Rufina, who was completely bandaged like a mummy, with envy.
“Everyone, playtime is over. We’re taking Rufina and going home.”
“Hmm, that won’t do.”
Once again, Pushirira and Alana entered a battle stance, and Marquis Rutland’s chest burst open, blood spewing from his mouth.
“W-Wait, Christine-san, that’s too sudden!”
“…Die.”
“Dead again. How many lives do I need to talk to you lot? Let’s hear me out first.”
That’s a reasonable point. Though I’m the one who attacked, discussion is indeed important.
“Rufina, return to the magic circle and wait. The rest of you, follow me.”
Having said that, the Marquis walked away briskly. He could have just explained and let us go here. He’s such a dramatic father.
“Pushirira-san and Sophia-san, please take Rufina to the magic circle and wait. If things get dangerous, we’ll escape, so please be prepared.”
“Now then, as we take our seats, let me explain the events so far…”
As expected of a Marquis, the mansion had several large rooms, adorned with luxurious paintings and furnishings.
“B-Before that, are you Rufina’s father? The person they call master…”
“I am both her father and her master. Rufina is my daughter and my disciple. Viscountess Rufina Rutland, my proud daughter.”
So Rufina was a noble. I didn’t know that. It seemed everyone else didn’t know she was a noble either; Alana was just staring with her mouth agape.
“This time, you attacked my mansion because you were trying to get Rufina back, I presume. However, that is a mistake. Rufina came here of her own free will and is staying to heal her injuries.”
“…What are you saying? Rufina wasn’t injured. She got hurt *after* coming here.”
What had Rufina been doing while I and Alana were gone? I thought we were all going shopping for dresses and waiting.
“I am also partly responsible for her injuries. …Before that, what do you think a Necromancer’s greatest desire is?”
Necromancers. They are distinct from ordinary mages. They don’t use elements like fire or water but manipulate poison and the dead, making them not universally liked. What could a Necromancer yearn for? Perhaps increased popularity?
“A Necromancer’s greatest desire: subjugation and assimilation with the Undead King.”
Oh, I was completely wrong. The Undead King… do they mean the No-Life King? I heard he’s the king of the dead and that most physical attacks are ineffective against him.
“Rufina failed to summon the Undead King and subjugate him.”
