Chapter 41: Fireflies (4K)
Another Domain?!
The average noble audience, who only know how to indulge themselves, don’t understand what a domain is. They only know that in the previous semifinal, a large red shell was present.
And now, this round has become a black shell!
And when the domain appears, they know that this match is going to be nothing to watch.
There’s just a big shell on the field; there’s nothing to see, nothing visible.
“… Just wait, it doesn’t matter who wins or loses this match; neither the Kingdom’s face can hold up. His Majesty organized a match, and now it’s become the Demon Race’s home ground. If this gets out, other races will probably find it laughable.”
“Shh, don’t say too much. Didn’t you see how nervous His Majesty looks? Don’t forget the identity of the First Princess of the Demon Race during this match: she’s the Peace Ambassador… I haven’t seen her show any intention of pursuing peace. The ones above us are more anxious; I always feel that trouble is yet to come.”
“Ahahaha… I hope you’re wrong; if possible, I’d like to leave here alive.”
…………………………
Jeffrey’s inherent domain, Zero, can transform the flow of space and time outside the spellcaster within the domain into nothingness, making the one who releases magic the absolute ruler of this domain.
However… there are always exceptions.
Xue Fei looked up at the pure white, but slightly impure dome.
Then she circled around in place, observing the entirety of this domain.
Finally, she sighed and shrugged her hands at Belis, who stood opposite her.
“Hey… the magic crystal hasn’t been improved, huh? The completion of the domain isn’t low, but look at those black spots on top; the magic power purity is clearly not well preserved? Belis, this borrowed domain can only be maintained for half an hour at most. Does it have any meaning?”
“Puh… Queen Sister, you’re joking. For you, the difference between a domain lasting half an hour and thirty days is non-existent.”
“Well, that’s true.”
Just speaking plain truths.
Belis felt that if the domain was truly useful, then the current Queen Sister should be completely immobilized, allowing her to be controlled, instead of being so full of life~
So, Belis borrowed the domain magic from Jeffrey, with no expectations that it could restrain the Queen Sister’s actions.
— Its function was merely to shield the outside world.
Two ghostly purple daggers gradually emerged in Belis’s hands, taking up a stance for forward thrusting.
All five wings were directed backward, ready to unfold at any moment to unleash Super Acceleration.
“Because the duel between me and the Queen Sister is just our personal affair, a family matter. Those spectators are unnecessary; with the domain completely isolating us, this is just perfect.”
Oh, I see.
So, you’re effectively asking Uncle Jeffrey for a “big pot lid”!
If Uncle Jeffrey knew that the domain he takes pride in was used for such a purpose, he might cry even in his old age.
That said…
Xue Fei finally turned her body to face Belis, staring directly into the similar eyes for the first time since entering the stage.
“Then let’s go. I want to see what kind of childish tantrum you’re throwing by arranging yourself across from me.”
“Ah… Queen Sister, don’t say that. Belis has grown up, okay?”
Belis slowly raised her right hand, making a gesture that would surely spike Xue Fei’s blood pressure.
— The right hand glided over her own chest at a slight curve.
At the same time, a mischievous smile appeared on Belis’s face.
“As for how grown up I am, at least here… I’m a little bigger than you!”
“You… don’t gloat…!”
Swish——————
Before Xue Fei could finish her sentence, Belis had already flickered and vanished from her original spot.
She had deliberately said that to disrupt Xue Fei’s thoughts and responses.
The moment the Queen Sister’s blood pressure spiked, that was Belis’s best opportunity to attack!
In just a blink of an eye, the figure that had been several meters away from Xue Fei’s opposite side had already circled behind her.
In mid-air, she completed an elegant spin by stepping on the air.
In the time of a single strike, Belis had already unleashed over ten blades!
However…
The sound of blunt objects colliding and grinding echoed.
Belis was astonished to discover that there was a thin layer of defensive magic array covering the edges of the Queen Sister’s six-winged wings.
Her preemptive cutting attack did not yield results.
Despite appearing so weak, the sensation of the magic blade striking against it felt as if it were chopping against the hardest rock in the world.
At an angle where Xue Fei could not see, Belis, despite her attack failing, wore a proud smile.
As expected of the Queen Sister… she is truly super impressive!
The surprise attack unsuccessful, Belis shifted her position, creating some distance.
She glided along the surface of the domain with her black wings, landing a little farther behind Xue Fei.
Thus, the first round of clashes concluded.
— During this time, Xue Fei had not moved.
With no time to rest, Belis once again flickered and disappeared.
As if possessing clones, she appeared simultaneously from all directions around Xue Fei.
In fact, those weren’t clones, but afterimages produced by her overwhelming speed.
However… the results of this offensive were no different from the first time.
The defensive magic was not solely covering the back of Xue Fei.
In front of her, to the sides, behind, above—all were impeccably protected.
One side remained motionless.
The other side moved like lightning.
If one weren’t aware that Xue Fei had not received any harm, it would have been impossible to distinguish which side had the advantage.
Until Belis’s magic sword blade emitted a weak distortion, she chose to abandon the continued attack, retreating a few steps to properly adjust her stance.
Visibly… Belis’s breathing had become ragged; her silver hair clung to her forehead with sweat, and the hand gripping the blade trembled slightly.
The repeated impacts against the high-intensity defensive magic’s reaction force made her fingertips ache.
“Are you done making a fuss?”
Xue Fei was starting to lose patience; when she glanced back, her slightly furrowed brow resembled a reminder to her mischievous younger sister not to misbehave.
“Stop messing around; go back to the Demon Territory with Father King and Mother Queen. You’re making such a commotion just to get me to say something. Fine, I tell you, we can get along normally in the future, just like the most ordinary sisters in other families. I won’t avoid you intentionally; conversely, you don’t need to prove anything to me.”
“‘Getting along normally, huh’…”
Upon hearing these words, as Belis pushed herself up with her trembling shin, the bangs of her silver hair were low enough to cover her eyes.
A trace of self-deprecating smile plastered on her face, like a kitten caught in the rain.
And deep within her eyes, there was a hint of desolation.
“Queen Sister… can we just consider this a nightmare…? Let’s say it’s just a quarrel between sisters… I know I’ve made a lot of mistakes… but… I want my sister to come home… back to the way we were when we were younger… I’ll definitely prove that I can be a good child… and I’ll be a good younger sister… okay?”
“I said, you don’t need to apologize, and you don’t need to prove anything. I’m not angry; I’ve already forgiven you.”
You’ve… already forgiven me?
But Queen Sister…
The look in your eyes right now is so cold, as if you’re looking at a stranger.
Queen Sister… why didn’t I memorize those smiles more when you were smiling at me back in the distant past…
Belis once again reached into her dress pocket.
Xue Fei slightly furrowed her brows, thinking that Belis must have a second magic crystal.
However… what Belis pulled out from her pocket was an unremarkable four-leaf clover.
This was what Belis picked from the grass at the entrance when departing from the Demon King’s Castle.
The four-leaf clover bore the laughter shared between her and the Queen Sister.
It may not be from the same leaf, but they both gazed up at the same starry sky, right?
Belis clenched the leaf tightly in her palm, the magic sword blade reforming, surrounded by traces of magic activation.
“But… Belis is a greedy child… if it continues like this in the future…”
“Belis…?”
“Queen Sister.” When Belis looked up, there was clearly a tragic smile on her face, “Let’s continue.”
Let’s continue.
Belis shook off the sweat from her brow.
Like a generous and fearless silver-haired angel, she transformed into a silver flash, charging towards Xue Fei once more.
Even if she knew it was futile, it didn’t matter.
Because… fighting between sisters is meant to be hands-on, right?
Even if I can’t beat my sister, I can at least throw a tantrum like this, right?
Once.
Twice.
Thrice.
No matter how many attacks, all were blocked by Xue Fei’s defensive magic.
Until countless rapid assaults seemed…
— Belis knelt on one knee, gasping heavily, her sword blade flickering in and out of visibility.
This was a sign of excessive magic consumption.
Xue Fei bit her lip tightly, her gaze growing colder.
“Belis… it’s enough, that’s sufficient.”
“Sorry…”
Belis stood up once again.
Why stand up again?
Because Belis had said she was always such a greedy child…
Once greedy for her sister’s companionship.
Then greedy for her sister’s power.
Later, knowing she had already hurt the person she loved the most, she still thought about reconciling with her.
Belis squeezed the little magic power left inside her, continuing to slash at the defensive magic in front of Xue Fei.
Despite being in such a painful process, Xue Fei could vaguely hear Belis’s relieved laughter.
Belis finally understood.
It turns out…
The time when she ignored and “disliked” the Queen Sister wasn’t because she was being foolish.
Belis merely hated her past weak self.
Hated that she didn’t deserve to have such a perfect Queen Sister but stubbornly clung to her.
And that loathed version of herself messed everything up…
Xue Fei heard the laughter…
But she also saw the streaks of tears sliding by.
Xue Fei lowered her head.
With all her strength, she clenched her fists, warning softly.
“Belis, hurry and stop.”
“I really want to fight back…”
“What exactly are you holding on to… I already told you that I won’t avoid you in the future…!”
【Queen Sister…! Queen Sister! Wuwu… thunder is so scary! It’s much better now… with Queen Sister holding me, it’s definitely not scary! Hehe… I feel like I might never overcome my fear of thunder, but with Queen Sister protecting me, it can never scare me again!】
Thunder?
…But since we parted, I haven’t hugged her on stormy days.
I haven’t been by her side.
But thunder still often roars.
How did she get through those times…?
Huddled alone in a corner, hugging herself.
The girl trembled and mouthed Xue Fei’s name… her voice drowned beneath the thunder until the sudden rain calmed down.
The light purple magic light spots that spilled from Belis’s continuous attacks occasionally drifted past Xue Fei.
Like fireflies, they miraculously awakened countless voices from the past.
【… Did you say you’d eventually go on an expedition? It’s okay! As long as Queen Sister still wants Belis, Belis will never not want Queen Sister… Hm? Queen Sister, you’re the one acting like a little devil! Hmph… If I ever throw a little tantrum and ignore Queen Sister in the future, that must be because I didn’t understand! Anyway, Queen Sister is the best, so you’ll definitely not blame me… but please don’t let Belis run far away, okay? If Belis runs far away… I might lose my way home…?】
Am I… still waiting on the road back home for her?
She seeks her way home…
Where was I during those times…?
Xue Fei slightly widened her eyes, surprised at life’s missed opportunities.
I thought I had done well in this lifetime, that I was living out the way I wanted.
But… have I really done enough?
Due to the contemplation gradually halting the supply of defensive magic, cracks began to appear under the increasing difficulty of Belis’s slashes.
Xue Fei had no time to think about magic.
As her gaze moved with the flowing light.
The fireflies from that year… seemed to fly by again.
【Puh… Queen Sister, you’re so childish! What are you looking at fireflies for? Your eyes are much brighter than fireflies; I want to see your eyes more… Did you say Belis’s eyes are just as bright? Yayay! Then Queen Sister, you have to look at my eyes more! Don’t watch the fireflies!】
Hiss…
【Do you want to be a bit freer, Queen Sister…? I don’t quite understand, but can you take me wherever you want to go… Wuwu… I won’t cause trouble. I just worry that you’ll leave me alone at home… Recently, those magic teachers in the castle keep criticizing me… saying I learn magic too slow… Hm… when Queen Sister comes back, will you teach me in person? Really?! Great! Then let’s make a promise… you have to come back early!】
ZzzZZ…
【Sorry, I can’t face you, and I might not be able to in the future.】
【You ask why?】
【Because you are strong, so much stronger than me, and sadly… I can never catch up with you.】
【I can only see your back, chasing behind you, growing farther away; then, how can we face each other?】
But… I said I would come back to teach you magic…
That night’s firefly accidentally did not glow.
It can’t illuminate the face I want to wait for.
Nor can it find the fingertips you reached out toward my back.
Later, I walked far away.
Later, you let go of your hand.
Then you started to chase.
And now… I still haven’t looked back.
I…
“Queen Sister!!”
“!”
Bang!!
Belis had exhausted her last bit of magic.
She could only rely on her fists, fiercely striking the magic array, producing a crisp sound.
— The indestructible defensive magic shattered completely into countless firefly-like points!
In the space of Zero.
Those shattered light points fluttered like fireflies in the dark night.
They couldn’t light up the night sky.
But they illuminated the heart.
