Chapter 81
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Back when she was still a Holy Knight, Claire was weaker than Emma.
If they had ten mock battles, Claire might win at most two. She wasn't overwhelmingly weak to the point of losing every time, but it was clear that Emma was stronger.
Claire felt a bit frustrated by this, yet at the same time, she was glad. She was happy to have a reliable comrade and someone close by to look up to as a goal.
(You had more talent than me, were hardworking, and had a strong heart. I admired Emma. But that strength of heart also connected to a certain inflexibility, didn't it......)
Because of her convictions, she couldn't hear the words of others and would charge forward on the path she believed in.
And her position in the Holy Knight Order might have only encouraged that further.
Moreover, having lost a precious comrade and feeling the responsibility to carry on their will, it wouldn't be strange if she could think of nothing but defeating the Demon King.
"Emma. Let's begin."
At Claire's voice, Emma nodded.
And then, Emma made the first move.
Emma closed the distance in an instant, swinging her sword upward from a low stance.
Claire didn't bother dodging the strike and instead swung the Sword of Gaen down toward Emma.
Emma instantly realized her disadvantage, stopped her attack, and shifted to evasion. She let Claire's sword pass by and created distance.
"......Claire. Aiming for a mutual strike isn't like you."
"I'm not the same as when I was human. Even if my body is cut in two, I won't die. So, if we both take deep wounds at the same time, it's my win."
"......You've picked up quite a reckless style of swordsmanship."
"I stopped being human and became an Undead alongside Yuurai. I don't need to win in a beautiful way that everyone can be proud of. As long as it's for Yuurai's sake, that's enough."
"......It seems the Demon King has killed Claire's heart. To wish to be a Slave...... That's unforgivable."
"Yuurai hasn't killed my heart. I admit there have been some changes, but I still hold onto my own heart. And if we're talking about being a Slave, then Emma, you're the Slave of some unknown God."
Back when she was a Holy Knight, Claire never questioned fighting for God. She believed it was a noble and sacred thing.
However, when she found herself wanting to survive even after becoming an Undead, everything she had believed in crumbled. She wasn't some noble, sacred Holy Knight; she was just a person pretending to be great by borrowing God's authority.
"......Haha, so I'm the Slave of God, huh?"
"That's how it looks to me now. What are you fighting for, Emma? Is killing a girl who wishes for peace your idea of justice?"
"......The Demon King is a great sinner who has already killed countless people. Whether their wish for peace is genuine or not, I can't tell. Even if they think that way now, they're a dangerous existence who could do anything in the future. It's for God, but also for humanity, that they must be defeated."
"......I see. It looks like we really can't understand each other anymore."
Even in the midst of a fight to the death, Claire felt like crying just a little.
The friend who should have been the most important to her was now nothing more than an enemy.
(Emma and I are walking separate paths. But I have new comrades now, so I'll be okay. ......But who is by Emma's side? Will Emeralda stay with Emma forever......?)
Even in the middle of battle, Claire found herself worrying about Emma.
Despite being in a one-on-one duel, she couldn't focus on the fight at all.
No, perhaps from the start, this one-on-one duel didn't matter to her.
Claire just wanted a chance to face Emma again.
"Emma...... Ever since that battle, you've been suffering, haven't you......? And I'm sure that suffering will continue. But I hope that someday, you'll find a time of peace and happiness...... I always liked your bright smile, Emma......"
"......If a day comes when I can smile again, it will be when I've defeated the Demon King."
"I see......"
(You might only be able to think that way right now. But as time passes, maybe gentle forgetfulness will heal Emma's heart...... I probably won't be by your side when that happens. And that's okay. As long as you can show that smile to someone other than me, that's enough......)
Emma approached again.
A high-speed slash aimed at Claire's neck. Claire lightly tilted her body to dodge and simultaneously tried to cut at Emma's torso.
Emma didn't avoid Claire's sword. The Sword of Gaen easily sliced halfway through Emma's torso.
(Huh? Ah)
Claire was shaken by the fact that she had severely injured Emma. Even though she was an enemy, Claire couldn't see her as just an enemy.
Despite her deep wound, Emma swung her sword once more.
Shaken, Claire reacted a beat too late. Before she realized it, both her arms were flying through the air.
"......Tch."
Emma's attacks continued. A sharp slash strong enough to cut through a Holy Knight's armor severed Claire's neck.
"Ah......"
This was the second time her head had been cut off.
Even with her head severed, she wouldn't die immediately. But with her head gone, her body couldn't move.
In other words, she had lost.
"It's over, Claire."
Emma raised her sword to strike at Claire's head lying on the ground.
However, it stopped midway.
"Sorry to interrupt your serious duel, but I won't let you kill Claire. She's my precious comrade."
It seemed Yuurai had stopped Emma's movement with Marionette Magic.
Claire had known that would probably happen when the time came. It was never a fight to the death from the start.
If she died carelessly, she'd just be brought back again at the cost of ten thousand lives or so, so it was good that she didn't die.
(Lost again...... I want to become stronger than Emma someday, but I don't want to fight her anymore......)
Claire thought that with a peaceful heart and quietly closed her eyes.