Chapter 28
After the flames, a blonde woman landed on the ground. She wore silver armor different from that of the Holy Knights, and her helmet only protected her head, so her face was visible.
She looked to be in her early twenties, with sharp, cold eyes that left an impression. In her right hand was a golden sword, and in her left, a silver round shield. She seemed like a knight or a swordswoman, but she also appeared capable of using magic.
When Yuurai looked up, a giant sky-colored bird was flying gracefully. It looked like she had flown in riding on its back.
"......Missed. Your reactions aren't bad."
"......Who the hell are you? An adventurer?"
Gilka set Yuurai down and drew the two swords at her waist.
"......If you're asking my status, then adventurer. My name is Ceres. I'm here on a request to subjugate the vicious monster that appeared in the north."
"Ceres......you say?"
Gilka seemed to recognize the name Ceres. She frowned.
"......Who's Ceres?"
"......She's one of the few First-Rank Adventurers. On top of that, she's skilled in Light Attribute magic. It's not as specialized for monster extermination as Holy Attribute, but I believe she's still a threat to Yuurai-sama."
"Ugh, someone like that showed up all of a sudden? Am I gonna die?"
"I won't let that happen. I'll protect you."
"You're saying such cool things. I might fall for you."
"Please don't. I can't imagine what Claire would say."
"Hm? Why bring up Claire now?"
"That's because......"
Ceres interrupted the conversation between Yuurai and the others.
"You there, monster. I don't sense any magic, but if you're using concealment magic that perfect, then you must be the target. I'm going to kill you."
In the next moment, Ceres kicked off the ground. Yuurai could barely track her with her eyes, but Gilka blocked Ceres's strike with both swords.
"Beastkin. Don't get in my way."
"If you're aiming for Yuurai-sama, you'll have to take me down first!"
"You intend to side with a monster? You're not being controlled?"
"I'm not being controlled! I'm protecting Yuurai-sama of my own will!"
"Why?"
"Honestly, I don't really know either! But I feel like Yuurai-sama could change the world! Even a hopeless ex-bandit like me might be able to live a decent life!"
"......I don't understand. You're not the target, but if you get in my way, I'll kill you."
"Try it if you can!"
Ceres struck Gilka with her left-hand shield. Gilka was blown back more than ten meters.
"You're next."
"Pain."
"Guh."
Just as Ceres pointed her weapon, Yuurai began her counterattack.
Though Ceres used Light Magic, she seemed to have resistance to Dark Magic too. Pain made her flinch a little, but she didn't cough blood or collapse.
(Even if it's not very effective, I'll keep going for now.)
Yuurai spread the Blades of Darkness around her and continued using Pain repeatedly to chip away at Ceres.
It didn't seem like she was inflicting major damage, but it was enough to restrict movement.
After about ten uses of Pain, Ceres's body was enveloped in light. After that, Pain stopped working.
"To think you could break through my defenses with Dark Magic...... No wonder the Holy Knight Order was annihilated......"
"Hey, how about we stop fighting? If we keep this up, one of us might end up seriously hurt. Instead of fighting, why don't we talk a little?"
"There's nothing to discuss with a monster. Die."
"You people really don't know how to bend, do you......"
As Ceres closed in, Yuurai had no choice but to counter with the Blades of Darkness. Though the blades could easily slice through monsters, perhaps due to compatibility, they couldn't cut through Ceres's sword or shield.
However, the light didn't make the Blades of Darkness vanish. Perhaps that light mainly blocked mental-type magic. And while Yuurai launched dozens of attacks, Ceres only had one sword. As Yuurai kept attacking, Ceres became unable to move from her spot.
"Tch...... What an annoying spell...... O Light!"
Ceres's sword began to glow. When she slashed, a massive blade of light flew toward Yuurai.
"Absorption."
A black circle three meters in diameter appeared in front of Yuurai. The light was sucked into it and vanished.
"What!?"
"Hey, could you not fight in a way that might damage the town too? If I hadn't absorbed that just now, it would've definitely destroyed the town."
"......You, who feel nothing about killing all the town's residents, are worried about the town itself? Ridiculous."
"That was an accident, okay? Besides, this town might be rebuilt someday. If what's here now gets destroyed, that's a problem."
"Rebuilt? A town inhabited by monsters being rebuilt is impossible!"
"......Ugh, you really are inflexible. Does Light Attribute come with a curse that makes your thinking rigid?"
"Of course not!"
Ceres pushed through the momentum of the Blades of Darkness and closed in on Yuurai.
Ceres's blade was about to reach Yuurai, but then someone rushed past her left side.
"Ah, Claire."
Claire swung the Sword of Gaen and slashed at Ceres's torso.
Whether it was the excellence of the Sword of Gaen, Claire's strength, or both, Ceres's armor was deeply torn, and her side was wounded.
"Guh."
Ceres flinched for a moment but quickly regained her stance. She blocked Claire's follow-up attack from behind with her shield.
She blocked it, but...... the shield split in two.
"Tch!"
Ceres leapt back to create distance.
"What is that sword......? For it to cut through Royal Silver armor and shield......"
Ceres said bitterly, and Claire responded with a calm expression.
"You've at least heard the name, haven't you? This is the Treasured Sword passed down by the Royal House of Rivalt, the Sword of Gaen. I can't draw out its full power, but cutting through Royal Silver equipment is easy."
"The Sword of Gaen......? Why is something like that here......?"
"From the looks of it, you haven't heard what happened. If you're willing to listen, I'll explain—but in return, give up on killing Yuurai."
"I will kill her. That hasn't changed."
"......I see. Not even a Holy Knight, yet unwilling to listen...... Must be the curse of the Light Attribute."
"There is no such curse!"
"......I believe there is. Those who can use Light or Holy Attributes tend to convince themselves they are justice...... Like God supports them or something...... Because of that, they lose sight of everything else. I've seen it many times. Only Emeralda is an exception."
"Silence. If you're her ally, then I'll cut you down too."
"Ah, wait a second. There's something I need to confirm first."
Claire stopped her and turned toward Yuurai.
"Yuurai. I came for now, but should I fight her?"
"......Yeah, I guess."
"Is that an order?"
"......Let's call it an order."
"Got it. In that case, I have no choice."
(Do we really have to go through this every time?)
Yuurai felt like laughing, but realizing it wasn't the time, she just sighed.