“Relying on the world—?
No! Rainer Helvirshine—!
“—I have never—relied on anything like the world!!”
As I reached that answer, wind raged from my body.
“—!?”
The wind pushed back the tip of the staff, and Nosfy showed confusion for the first time.
“Ah, I can’t reach you! But just because I can’t reach you, it doesn’t mean I have to lose!!
And, I won’t rely on the world just because I can’t win.
There’s no convenient world? I’ve known that for a long time.
So, what I rely on is—older brother, Christ! And, Lord Rowen! And then, older sister and my friends from the academy!
Relying on the power of the ‘people’ who saved this trash like me, I’m fighting now!!
The wind disturbances emanating from me reached their peak, about to blow Nosfy, who was standing above me, away. Naturally, she tried to counter with light magic. Trying to influence my ‘blood’ and activate the same magic—Nosfy was confused.
“Th-this wind isn’t magic—!? No, even more than that—!”
The wind converged on my shoulder, taking shape.
The shape of the wind was an ‘arm’.
A wind arm that looked familiar was generated.
“An arm!?”
The wind arm moved to capture Nosfy, who stared in surprise with wide eyes. Nosfy jumped away from me, trying to avoid touching the mysterious arm.
Thanks to the wind arm, the mount was broken, and I was freed.
Then, facing Nosfy, who was on guard, I gripped my sword again as I stood up unsteadily.
At some point, the world had transformed into a fantastical sky, a mixture of darkness and green phosphorescence. The world was broken, with only rubble floating. It looked like a sky of stardust.
Perhaps due to the sensação of floating, similar to when falling from the sky, it was difficult to even step on one of the pieces of rubble.
If I slipped, I would fall straight to the bottom of hell.
But, strangely, I wasn’t scared.
The world had collapsed, but the wind was blowing.
A gentle wind blew, its melody sounding like a voice.
(—Yes, that’s fine. Rainer.)
Even though it was the sound of wind, far from a physical voice, I felt like I could clearly understand what was being said.
A very familiar voice passed through both my ears.
(Instead of a dubious world, the connection between ‘people’ is the power that can save a boy. Now then, shall we go together? My successor knight—Rainer Helvirshine! Let’s defeat the Guardian of Light together!!)
Then, the raging wind returned to my body.
As if it was its home, it naturally returned to my magic power.
“This magic power is—Hairi-san? Or older brother? No, something else—…a woman?”
Although the voice was familiar, the magic power felt unfamiliar.
Due to the magic power being a mixture of multiple attributes and characteristics, I couldn’t identify the person who was its source.
However, I soon realized that it wasn’t important.
“No, it doesn’t change… Ah, it doesn’t matter either way! Everyone, that’s the point, right!?”
I called out to the unspecified many people I relied on.
Then,
(—, ———!!)
I felt an answer.
The wind had returned to magic power, so I could no longer hear the voice.
But I definitely felt a nod of affirmation within me.
As if to prove it, the ‘Dimensional Ring’ entrusted to me by Christ shattered on its own.
Furthermore, without my will, magic began to construct itself.
Seeing this, Nosfy said the magic name as if trying to probe.
“This magic, isn’t it “Wind”…? Could it be, “Connection”…?”
Even if asked, I didn’t know. This wasn’t my magic.
But, it’s magic that will help me. That’s all that matters.
“No way… Why dimensional magic…?”
The wind arm activated magic with dimensional attributes. Nosfy looked at it with an expression of astonishment.
The wind arm extending from my shoulder drew a sword from ’empty space’.
It was a sight I had seen before. It was the same sight as when Christ used his ‘Inventory’.
And, I had also seen the sword that was drawn. Of course. I wear the same, shining silver one on my waist.
—Now, the missing holy twin swords are complete.
“Hah… Hahaha! So that’s how it was! The other ‘one wing’ was held by Hairi-san! No, it was within me!!”
While I was laughing, the effect of the magic continued.
Next, another wind arm grew on the opposite shoulder. This new wind arm quickly drew the spare sword I wore on my waist.
With both wind arms, the ‘Holy Twin Swords of the Helvirshine Family—One Wing’ were held as twin swords in the true sense of the word.
“Yes, that’s right! We Helvirshines are twin sword knights! Two swords and two swords are our true strength! The ‘Holy Twin Swords of the Helvirshine Family’ are over there!! I’ll use the twin swords inherited from Lord Rowen!!”
I readied the demonic twin swords, ‘Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen’ and ‘Sylphe Ruf Bringer’.
Behind those demonic twin swords, the wind arms hid the holy twin swords. Inevitably, the wind arms perfectly overlapped my arms. The stance was so perfectly aligned that at first glance, it looked like only one pair of twin swords.
They must have been careful not to get in the way of my arms.
It was clear they were only here to support me.
Yes, I understood.
Now, I was truly connected with the wind arms. My heart trembled at the miracle.
The eyes of Nosfy, who witnessed this miracle, were stern.
“…Strange. This is too strange. Did you replicate dimensional magic with wind magic? No, was that conversation just now the use of blood magic? … Either way, what a chaotic, what a greedy magic construction—!!”
She bit her lip irritably at the phenomenon she couldn’t comprehend.
I didn’t understand it either, but I stepped forward with an expression completely opposite to Nosfy’s.
“—Let’s go, ‘Thief of the Principles of Light’. This is true Resonance Magic, ‘Resonance of Blood and Soul’, ‘Twin Swords of Life that Rend the World’! Named—Helvishein Duet Sword!!”
Then, I shouted from my heart as I was taught, and kicked off the rubble-strewn ground.
“Strange…! This is too strange…!”
The battle resumed.
But Nosfy still looked incredulous. Muttering, she took an offensive stance with only her staff of light.
My twin swords attacked from left and right. Nosfy deftly blocked them with both ends of her staff of light.
But even if she could block my twin swords, there was still another pair of twin swords. From the shadow of my twin swords, a new pair of twin swords smoothly emerged.
“—It is indeed strange, but! This much is still acceptable!!”
Nosfy saw through the movement of the new twin swords before they even attacked. She instantly flicked my twin swords away with her staff of light, and then blocked the approaching third and fourth ferocious blades with both ends of the staff of light.
As expected of a guardian, she was not easily overcome. Even with four times the number of attacks, I still couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Then, it’s time for the next—!
“—Wind Arrow! Divine Arrow!”
I fired two basic magic spells from the tips of the demonic twin swords. It was a simple feint. But what was important here wasn’t the magic *I* cast.
The real deal was the magic that followed my magic.
As I expected, three and four magic spells emerged from the hidden twin swords.
And, two Wind Arrows, two Divine Arrows.
—The dual magic became dual again.
“M-magic is also quadruple!? You’re quite skillful! But if that’s some kind of magic…—!?”
Seeing the magic, Nosfy tried to ‘negate’ my ‘blood’ with the light of her banner. However, only my “Wind Arrow” and “Divine Arrow” had a matching magic. The third and fourth magic spells cast from the ‘Holy Twin Swords of the Helvirshine Family’ could not reach ‘negation’. Nosfy hastily knocked down the magic arrows with her staff.
“It’s useless, Nosfy! Our power isn’t overflowing from our ‘blood’! It’s overflowing from the soul of this Helvirshine, deeper than ‘blood’!!”
Since it wasn’t my magic, I couldn’t process it with my ‘blood’. I explained this obvious fact to Nosfy in a very understandable way.
“Hah?! I don’t understand—!!”
However, Nosfy responded with a bewildered look, stating her inability to comprehend, while evading the approaching magic with her martial arts.
Finally, with her on the defensive, I relentlessly pressed my attack with a furious momentum. The two pairs of twin swords, swung not just from left and right, but also from above and below, stole the composure from Nosfy’s face.
“Guh, each sword stroke has too much individuality! It’s like fighting three of my own knights simultaneously! Could it be, the function of these swords—Then, then—!!”
Nosfy concentrated the light of her banner elsewhere. The next target wasn’t me or the “blood,” but the four “swords” we now held in our hands.
But that wouldn’t matter. I was certain that a definite will resided within all the swords. Even if she couldn’t be sure, I knew it was a will that opposed Nosfy. That’s why I continuted to swing my swords without hesitation.
“…The light won’t pass through the swords?! Why can mere swords resist me!? Ahh, ahhhh! Ahh, enough! Aleis, Ranze, Helvirshine! Those damnable three knights! As always, you don’t obey your master me at all!!”
Nosfy couldn’t control the swords and uncharacteristically cursed. This was the first time I had seen her like this. My mouth naturally curved into a grin.
Aleis, Ranze, and Helvirshine, huh… Thank you for telling me the names of swords I didn’t know. This frantic will residing in me, Ruf Bringer, is it called “Ranze”? I’ll use that information later when I use the swords. Ah, now, I’ll use it to kill you—!!
“Diiiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeee—!!”
I swung my swords until my arms threatened to tear off, aiming to reap life. In sync, I shouted magic until my throat was hoarse.
“《Zeer Wind》!!!!”
“Guh!”
Nosfy parried those swords and gales, sweat dripping down her face. Having lost her absolute superiority and facing an unknown power, she seemed to be faltering.
If I’m going to corner her, it has to be now. I thought so. Now, I not only had more arms, but the number of magic spells had also increased dramatically.
Now that I had more cards to play, I should remember Christ’s advice. In any case, just do things she dislikes. Don’t bring out standard moves, but choose those that would likely confuse Nosfy. In this situation, mixing and matching light magic “countermeasures” that would work with those that wouldn’t is the best approach.
“—《Quartz Bullet》《Zeer Wind》!”
I drew crystal magic from Rowen and released wind magic drawn from “blood” from my other hand. The wind magic was a feint; the plan was to land the crystal magic precisely. I was sure the wind arm would understand this strategy too.
“Reachhhhhhhh—!!”
Responding to my expectation, magic was automatically added. Following the crystal and wind bullets, dimensional distortions and divine arrows were unleashed from the wind arm. As a result, dual-attribute double magic, with four attributes, attacked Nosfy with intent. Even Nosfy couldn’t defend against it all, and a light arrow grazed her cheek. Just a little more—!
“I can do it! Thank you, everyone!”
I finally landed a hit. I shouted my thanks. And with the conviction of victory, I continued my assault.
From the shadows of the twin swords, another pair of twin swords. From the shadows of the dual magic, another set of dual magic. I continued to swing them relentlessly. Each sword had a distinct quality, and each magic spell was independent.
This is my true strength. The advantage that comes from borrowed power. It means that Rainer Helvirshine is not alone—!
“Hahaha, hahahaha! I’ll hit you next time—!!”
I continued my aggressive offense. Nosfy wouldn’t get a chance to counterattack anymore. I’ll overwhelm her like this. Kicking off the rubble, and utilizing wind magic, I flew freely through this chaotic sky, and I laughed. After all, I had other advantages against Nosfy. Looking at her face right now, it was perfectly clear. Confused by my onslaught, she contorted her face, unable to decide on her next move.
That’s right. No mistake. Nosfy is weak against even matches. She’s probably the strongest class when it comes to fights that don’t involve killing. There’s no one better at elevating an overwhelming victory into a complete triumph. This can be predicted from the legends of Fuziaze. In the history of Fuziaze, the south achieved bloodless surrenders multiple times during the war a thousand years ago. The general leading the south at that time was always Nosfy, the “Banner of Light.”
Her fighting style shows that she unconsciously tries to apprehend the opponent first. After all, the weapon she wields is a “banner,” not meant for killing. Honestly, it’s not even a weapon. In other words, capture over a battle to the death. Dialogue over battle. This is probably the characteristic of a “Thief of the Principles of Light.” And being far from clean matches—being bad at messy, blood-soaked battles is also a characteristic of a “Thief of the Principles of Light”—!
So, I just need to move away from Nosfy’s strong suit. Get as far away from the opponent’s turf as possible. Even if it’s just a bluff. Even as a bluff, the enemy before me will surely dislike it. I will gain not only combat superiority but also mental superiority. Therefore—laugh more and more—!!
“Ha, haha, hahahaha! Dieeee, Nosfy!! —《Ixe Wind》!!!!”
I unleashed wind, along with my legs. I concentrated solely on attacking with a suicidal charge. I laughed, intending to take the enemy with me. That fighting style, though shameful, was something I was accustomed to.
Yes. Because I’m accustomed to it, I can move smoothly. It was natural because it was my true nature, rather than fighting while thinking about various things.
I’m starting to have a little fun. Now, burn your life away more. Take risks. Focus only on the enemy you should impale yourself to kill. My life is trash anyway! Trash, trash, trash, trash—! Therefore, it’s a life that’s perfectly suited for burning—!!
“Haha, haha! Ahahahahahaha Hahaha—! I’ll kill, kill, kill, kill them! The enemies of my lord Christ, I, his knight, will annihilate them—!!”
I deliberately reproduced the same tension as when I fought Christ on Laura Via’s theater ship. Furthermore, using movements that I had suppressed due to my growth, I unleashed everything I had been held back from. Naturally, I became unscrupulous in order to deliver my blade.
Without a doubt, I’ve probably regressed as a knight who should protect someone. But now, that regression can be a good move. Looking at Nosfy’s face before me, it’s certain.
Thus, for Nosfy, all her weaknesses compounded, and she wore a face like she had swallowed one bitter pill too many.
“—Agh, as usual, disgusting! Helvirshine, such erratic movements again!!”
Nosfy couldn’t break free from being on the defensive. Even though she was accustomed to reckless charges, it didn’t change the fact that it was something she was bad at. Furthermore, due to her promise with her lord, it was likely difficult for her to hurt me. Her counterattack had completely stopped.
I know I’m not entirely blameless. I know this fighting style is unfitting for a knight. But this battle to the death is my domain, so I can’t help it! Because, at worst, I’d be satisfied with a mutual annihilation……! Haha! Ah, it truly feels nostalgic. And refreshing. The fact that my true nature, which everyone has criticized as a bad habit, is effective against a formidable enemy like Nosfy! I can’t help but find it hilarious……!! And that hilarity spills out of my mouth.
“Diiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeee—!!”
The exchange between Nosfy and me intensified endlessly. And, slowly but surely, I was beginning to overpower Nosfy.
There’s no doubt I’m weaker than Nosfy. However, precisely because I fight by borrowing the strength of various people, I can do things the opponent dislikes from a wide range of options. Unlike before, when I was fixated on specializing in self-destruction, nor just cherishing my life as Christ taught. Adapting everything—strength, attributes, characteristics, mind—to the situation is my true power—! And—with that forceful onslaught, I finally succeeded in overwhelming her.
“Guh—!!”
Nosfy admitted her disadvantage and leaped back greatly.
“Haa, haa, haa……! H-haha, haha……!”
I exhaled a breath that smelled of blood and smiled at Nosfy, who had escaped.
I leisurely observed the opponent’s next move, flaunting my advantage.
Nosfy glared back at me with clear hatred.
“…Hmph. This is so difficult to fight. And those eyes. You really are a descendant of the Helvirshine family. No matter how much I try to stop you, you won’t stop. You have no intention of stopping, so you completely disregard your master’s orders. For your master, you say, but you go against them without hesitation. —Those are the eyes of a berserker!”
It seemed the Helvirshine family’s ancestors had a similar personality. Despite being adopted and not sharing blood, it was an interesting coincidence.
For some reason, laughter bubbled up from the bottom of my stomach.
“Kukuk, kuha, hahahaha!”
Seeing my smile, Nosfy’s face contorted. It seemed she misunderstood, thinking I was happy to be called a berserker. Her eyes took on a look of disgust, and she took another step away from me.
“I suppose I can indulge in this chaotic battle to the death, but it’s true that I’m not good at it… I must avoid being killed at all costs…”
As she retreated, Nosfy mumbled, organizing her thoughts.
“I must avoid being killed at all costs, huh?”
That’s natural. Unlike me, who considers a mutual kill with a single Guardian a great achievement, Nosfy sees it differently. To her, dying here would mean taking down nothing more than a piece of trash. Who wouldn’t hate such an end?
“…And our combat styles are incompatible. My magic, which utilizes the opponent’s power, is exceptionally weak against those who draw power from external sources. Furthermore, you have resistance to mental pollution.”
The more she muttered, the calmer she became. It seemed this was her method of stabilizing her emotions.
“However, if I use the ‘Curse’ of the ‘Thief of the Principles of Light,’ I won’t be able to prove my feelings for Lord Uzunami. That is absolutely unacceptable. But using the ‘Incantation’ of light and regaining the conscience I painstakingly eroded is also unacceptable. Becoming a ‘Half-corpse’ is also unacceptable. Yet, I cannot use my trump card here. …Ah, this means—”
Nosfy took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
Then, she thrust her weapon, a flag, into a piece of rubble and voiced the thought that was likely on her mind.
“Oh, this is absurd! To have our slim chance of victory taken away like this… it’s utterly ridiculous!!”
She looked around, not at me, her enemy, but at her surroundings, trying to find the cause of this absurdity. Then, as if she found a clue, her gaze finally fixed on the magic power held in her palm.
“As I suspected, I feel a faint interference of some kind of magic… This attribute’s color, rather than belonging to Helvirshine, is closer to Lord Uzunami’s? And the target of the magic is not a person but space…? When and where— No, for me to be unable to sense it, what kind of magic could it be…?”
It seemed Christ had provided support without my knowledge. The only things that came to mind were the ‘Incantation’ I performed before the battle and something called Dimensional Magic, “Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude)”. My master called it a reinforcement magic, and it was highly likely that it had led to this situation.
I laughed, thinking how much I was relying on others.
But now, instead of feeling ashamed, I somehow felt proud.
“And that expression of yours… I can’t understand it. Ah, as expected, I’m not suited for combat… I can’t comprehend the thoughts of battle-crazed individuals at all.”
Nosfy showed a look of exasperation, going beyond mere dislike.
After saying this, she glanced back.
Seeing that gesture—I panicked.
Perhaps I had gone a little too far. If that was her checking for a retreat route, things might get complicated.
“Huh, o-oi… Don’t tell me… you’re running away from someone like me…?”
I had been foolish. That thought hadn’t occurred to me.
I had completely believed that someone of Nosfy’s caliber wouldn’t fear a piece of trash like me.
“Haa. Please stop calling yourself ‘someone like me’ now. …I admit it. Rainer Helvirshine is strong. While the nuances are slightly different, it’s no exaggeration to say you are a reincarnation of that Fafnir Helvishein. Therefore, I will choose to flee. I have no intention of getting involved in any fight I cannot absolutely win.”
Unexpectedly, I had been acknowledged by the ‘Thief of the Principles of Light’.
And as she spoke, Nosfy kicked off a piece of rubble, attempting to disengage from the battlefield.
“Wait! You’re not getting away!”
I hurriedly pursued her.
“—《Light》”
In response, Nosfy swung her flag, emitting light.
It was a simple blinding tactic, but an effective one for escape.
My vision was obscured for just a moment, and in that time, she gained distance.
In a world where gravity was insane, Nosfy skillfully kicked off rubble to move. Her destination was likely the battlefield where Rowen and Christ were.
If this continued, the separation I had so successfully achieved would be undone.
Hastily, I tried to construct a movement-based magic—
—Just then, *’Meteor Strike’* fell in the distance.
This vast, dark world was torn apart by a blue line.
Subsequently, I was struck by an impact so strong it lifted my body. Not only strong winds but also the waves from dimensional distortions spread like ripples across the world.
“Wh-!?”
“Hmph—!!”
The impact affected Nosfy ahead just as much.
It seemed this was also unexpected for Nosfy.
Rejoicing at another advantageous accident, I immediately lunged at the disoriented Nosfy.
“I’m your opponent! Nosfy!!”
“You’re disgusting! Don’t come near me!!”
My twin swords clashed with Nosfy’s staff of light.
If Nosfy wouldn’t fight me properly, I had no choice but to give up on victory and focus on delaying her. Instead of trying to defeat her with a suicide attack, I switched my combat style to block her path and we clashed.
At this point, the advantage had reversed.
Nosfy’s retreat was skillful, and our battlefield was gradually approaching Christ.
However, my luck did not end there.
—After *’Meteor Strike’*, a *’Tornado’* erupted.
In the direction where Christ and the others presumably were, something resembling a giant tornado appeared.
It couldn’t be definitively called a tornado because the sight was so bizarre.
The tornado glowed emerald and the very dimension began to warp, pushing away anything in the world.
Yes. The wind wasn’t blowing; it was magic repelling the world, resulting in whatever that was resembling a tornado.
Seeing it, Nosfy’s expression changed drastically.
“No way, Lord! You don’t have to go that far!? That’s unfinished, it’s dangerous!!”
She shouted, even interrupting the battle.
And I agreed with the enemy Nosfy’s assessment.
“Is this… is this magic…?”
It was undeniably abnormal, dangerous to anyone who saw it.
It was certainly not a tornado.
If I had to describe it, a cocoon of wind? No, a tube?
As a Knight of Wind, I could tell.
This was no longer just wind. The wind magic was so concentrated it had materialized. Its presence was so heavy it warped the world.
—It was like…
Yes, I knew of something similar.
That cocoon was now the size of a star—a ‘Magic Stone’.
“Lord! Please hold on until I get there!!”
Nosfy, regaining her composure first, began to rush towards the emerald ‘Magic Stone’.
I followed suit.
My guess was that Christ and Rowen were fighting inside that giant ‘Magic Stone’—neither of them could afford to be lenient. Seeing that great magic confirmed it. It would be even more dangerous to let the malevolent Nosfy interfere in such a situation.
Most importantly, Christ had ordered me to hold her off. Rowen said he would handle things.
As a Knight, I trusted my master’s words.
Then, what I needed to do now—!!
“I was entrusted by my master!! I won’t let you escape!! Nosfiiiiiieeeeee—!!!!”
I would not allow her to escape there.
“Ah, you are truly disgusting! Get out of my way, get out of my way, get out of my way! Rainerrrrrrrrrr—!!!!”
Nosfy screamed back, revealing her utter disgust.
—And so, my challenge to the ‘Thief of the Principles of Light’ was drawing to a close.
