This is my last post of the year.
I’ve made up my mind to fight, but even though the opponent is only the Demon Lord’s soul, he was still the Demon Lord.
In other words, even though this is a fantasy company, it’s an undeniable burden for me, a mere chief, to take on this challenge.
I’m currently experiencing firsthand just how immense their power is.
Just facing them fills me with an abnormal pressure, and all my attacks are blocked.
Will I really be able to do this? Every time that doubt surfaces in the back of my mind, I blow it away with sheer determination.
The opponent is indeed a formidable being, but not an immortal one.
The required threshold is high, but with sufficient attack power, they can be wounded, and even their seemingly inexhaustible magic power has its limits.
It’s just far off, but not nonexistent.
It feels like such a trial, like walking towards the end of a desert.
“Haaa… haaa… haaa… this is a bit tough.”
When taking on something like this, one normally has to pace themselves, but as I thought earlier, this situation is only manageable for us because of various factors like items that weaken the opponent, their dulled combat instincts, or their rusty Magic Power Management Ability, all combining to bring it to a line we can barely keep up with.
In such an environment, there’s no room for conserving stamina.
Facing a barrage of heavy, single-strike magic storms, there’s no way to conserve energy, and my stamina is being depleted like water from a fountain.
A wry smile and a complaint or two escape my lips, but even as I voice them, the opponent’s attacks don’t stop.
The armor I was provided with is scarred all over, and I can no longer remember how long it’s been since my breathing was steady.
What supports me is the fact that the Ore Tree, still unblemished, stands firm, and the sense that my attacks are growing sharper with each strike.
And though I have no time to look back, Kaido and the others’ support is also gradually diminishing.
The sense of duty that I must support them, even if just a little, is also giving me vitality.
With a mindset I never had during my corporate slave days, I tell myself I can still do this, suppress my wry smile, and return to a serious expression.
However, the fact that I’m fighting on a mental level also means I’m aware that my limits are not far off.
My knees haven’t buckled yet, but the red line is finally coming into view.
If I cross that boundary, I won’t be able to get away unscathed.
Above, Himik is engaged with twin angels.
It seems Himik has the upper hand, but reaching a conclusion will take time.
If I can hold out until then, we might be able to regroup a bit.
If we can regroup, we might still find a way to turn the tide.
“So, well, it’s not quite despair-inducing yet.”
The hope of possibility has not yet been extinguished.
Until that fact disappears, I’ll keep going, embracing my corporate slave spirit.
Certainly, in this short amount of time, almost every part of my body has started to ache.
But I’m not immobile, nor is it fatal.
If that’s the case, then it’s as usual; I’m glad I’ve come to a point where I can disregard minor injuries to achieve my goals.
“Seriously, won’t you return my subordinates? That expressionless face doesn’t suit them at all.”
While thinking such things, I provoke the opponent not with a wry smile, but with a fearless grin.
My arms, which were moving restlessly, continue to slice through magic, my eyes burn with hatred, and with a mask-like expression, they try to deal with us.
Such an expression infuriates me, and I swing the Ore Tree with enough vigor to blow away my fatigue.
I believe my voice reaches them.
However, the opponent before me offers no reply whatsoever.
“■■■■■■■■■■■”
Instead, unintelligible words are spun from their lips, and magic is deployed all at once.
I recognize and have heard of this technique.
It’s a technique called shortened incantation.
It’s an advanced technique that allows for the shortening of magic incantations, which Instructor Fushio’s nightmarish lessons showed me when he was teaching me.
It’s a technique, not a skill.
It’s difficult to master, but it’s a technique that anyone who uses magic would want to acquire.
Proficient mages can simultaneously cast multiple spells by overlapping their incantations with a shortened incantation, and those who have mastered it can achieve effects equal to or greater than a full incantation with a nearly incantation-less technique.
The reason I couldn’t make out the opponent’s words was that the incantations of multiple spells were overlapping, preventing me from understanding.
A master could discern the type of magic from the sound, but I don’t have that level of skill yet.
I’m still learning a lot, I realize even as I fight.
However, my body, contrary to these thoughts, circulates magic at full power as I run across the ground.
Lowering my posture, so much so that it looks like I’m crawling rather than running, I weave through basic elemental magic of fire, wind, water, and earth, as well as derivative magics like lightning, ice, and darkness, to close in.
And then, one strike. Even though I know it will be blocked, I attack decisively.
But I don’t linger in one place.
I know that if I stop, I’ll be turned into a beehive in no time.
So, to minimize damage, I adhere to a hit-and-away strategy, repeating the cycle of approaching and retreating.
But that too will change soon.
I’m gradually getting the hang of it.
“A little more.”
The barrier that was initially repelled now feels the edge of my blade, and it’s no longer repelled.
I can sense the shift within me from the feeling of “cannot cut” to “can cut.”
I recently realized that this is a sensation unique to those who wield a blade, rather than just a swordsman.
The Demon Lord’s barrier is hard.
But it’s not impossible to cut.
I’ve learned that the moment you believe you can’t cut it, you won’t be able to, but if you believe you can cut it, eventually you will.
“Cut.”
When I approach within a certain distance, the barrier unfolds to obstruct the frontliners.
Instead of unfolding like a semi-dome, I swing the Ore Tree towards a board-like barrier, about the size of a tatami mat, and this time, the tip of my blade slightly bites into the barrier.
The intention to do so transmits to my brain, and the parts of my body that react reflexively, like my spine and nerves, make micro-adjustments, moving me closer to my ideal by compensating for excess force and insufficient movement.
“Cut.”
Tracing the same spot with the returning blade, it bites in even deeper.
As if my body were a workshop for trial and error, with each attack I make, the blade leaves a sharper scar on the opponent’s barrier.
“Cut through!!”
Then, before the magic unleashed to shake me off reaches me, my third swing cuts through the Demon Lord’s barrier.
“Kaha! It cuts, doesn’t it!!”
Immediately after, I dodge the incoming magic by leaping backward and use the explosion’s blast wave to quickly retreat to Minami and the others.
Satisfied with my accomplishment, I land perfectly.
“Yo. How’s it going, you guys? Enjoying yourselves?”
“We don’t have time to enjoy ourselves.”
“Yeah. I’m okay, better than I expected, but not entirely fine.”
“Is this what a true battle is like, gozaru?”
It’s not the atmosphere of a battlefield, but the opponent is trying to kill us.
While not completely intimidated, all three of us can feel an unpleasant presence.
But that’s fine.
“Well, I’ll listen to your complaints and such later over drinks. For now, concentrate on the one in front of you.”
“Us.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“From my perspective, it feels like an impossible game, gozaru, but seeing you, Leader, makes me feel like it might be possible, gozaru.”
These guys haven’t broken yet.
They’ve set aside their negative feelings because it’s necessary and are concentrating on the task at hand.
If their spirits aren’t broken, their bodies can still move.
But that too will eventually reach its limit.
Physically, we can go until the potions run out, but honestly, I wish Himik would return to the front lines soon.
“We’ll hold out until a breakthrough comes.”
That’s what we can do now.
Goading my groaning body, I begin to charge again.
The battle in the sky is also becoming increasingly fierce.
Shifting my attention from there to the front, I clash with the Demon Lord’s soul once more.
The clock is ticking towards the time limit.
Suppressing the urge to panic, I give it my all.
***
Another Side
“Sister, you poor thing, to be in such a state. Don’t you think so, Shiik?”
“Yes, I do. Her once beautiful wings are so blackened. Truly, Sister is foolish. Isn’t that right, Miik?”
I ascend into the sky, awaiting my true form. No, what awaited me was the sight of my current fallen form being derided with chuckles by my sisters, exactly as I remembered.
“…”
I don’t get angry at their taunts.
This form is what I willed into being.
Therefore, I have no shame about this form.
Besides, I’m quite fond of these black wings now.
Indeed! Master said I was beautiful, and at night, oh, that’s irrelevant for now.
Right now, the Masters are fighting desperately on the ground.
From my perspective, it won’t be over immediately, but we can’t take too long.
I need to finish this quickly.
“Oh dear, Sister, you’re going to fight us? Shiik?”
“Yes, she seems to have some rather good equipment, but Sister appears to have forgotten it during her long slumber, Miik.”
With no words to exchange with my sisters, I draw my weapon. They smile even wider, as if finding it increasingly absurd.
I tilt my head behind my helmet, questioning what’s so funny.
“Shiik, Sister Himik has never once defeated us.”
“Miik, even in our sparring matches, we overwhelmingly won. I wonder how long Sister, the weakest among us, will last against both of us?”
Hmm, I see. So that’s what it is.
It appears my sisters are underestimating me.
Indeed, I see.
“Shiik, Sister is nodding silently, but what’s wrong?”
“Miik, she’s different from the Sister we know. What’s wrong?”
“Sister usually draws her weapon with a troubled expression.”
“And Sister is barely able to defend against our attacks.”
Looking back, it’s true that I’ve never won against my sisters in a fight.
There are reasons.
But I’ve never shared those reasons with my sisters.
And I considered those reasons excuses, yet I tried to make do.
Since these efforts yielded no results, I was labeled a failure by our Creator and older sisters, and my younger sisters treated me with the same condescending attitude as Shiik and Miik.
All of that is my fault; there’s nothing I can do.
“Well, fine. For now, I’ll defeat Sister as the Hero said, then defeat the humans below.”
“Yes, and finally, we’ll defeat the weakened Demon Lord as the main course.”
I’ve always lost to my sisters in sparring matches.
“Fufu, then, Sister.”
“Prepare yourself.”
They assume their positions, and with flawless coordination, they charge at me.
I clearly see their movements.
Shiik is the decoy, and Miik’s third strike is the real attack.
With that understood.
” Kyaa!?”
“Shiik!!”
There are any number of ways to counter that.
However, I feel a little sorry for my sisters.
After all, I can’t hold back.
As I told Master, I’m not good at holding back.
“Let me say one thing. Both of you, until now, I’ve tried not to harm you because you’re my sisters. Because our Creator didn’t want us sisters to fight. So, even if I was slandered endlessly, I tried not to hurt my sisters.”
No, there’s no longer a need to hold back.
“But I have gained something. A Master whom I will protect with everything I have.”
So, Shiik, Miik.
“If you’re going to retreat, now is the time. As sisters, I’ll let you go without doing anything.”
“How arrogant. Just because you managed to block our attack once.”
“That’s right. We haven’t lost yet.”
For the first time, I face my sisters.
“I see. Then I can unleash my full power without hesitation.”
I will wield this power.
“Facing my Master, defeat is not a word in my vocabulary.”
***
This is the end of Another Side.
Today’s Word:
If you know what needs to be done, just run towards it.
However, be careful not to fall.
That’s all for this installment.
If you enjoyed it, please leave your thoughts, ratings, and add it to your bookmarks.
*The first volume has been decided to be published by Hayakawa Bunko JA.*
*It was released on October 18, 2018.*
*The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year.*
*The second volume will be released on December 19.*
*The content includes revisions and additions to the material posted on Shousetsuka ni Narou, along with previously unpublished intermissions.*
*Please also check out the new releases!*
*A manga adaptation has also been decided for Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.”*
*Well then, everyone, have a Happy New Year. See you next year.*
