"Enough, Platanus. I don't want to hear any more from you. Just apologize to Crow and leave this royal castle. Do that, and I'll let you off," says Katoarea, her hand on the hilt of her Blazing Sword, issuing a final ultimatum.
"An apology, hmm. When it comes to fighting, you're as straightforward as always, Katoarea. But to think you'd settle for an apology and exile, that's too lenient. You're always too soft on your students."
Seeing Platanus's response, Katoarea retorts, "Looking at you, I painfully realize my educational methods were wrong!"
"Your methods? I didn't learn anything from you. In every aspect, I have surpassed you. Apart from owning the Blazing Sword, you're exceedingly average. You lack the qualities of a true instructor."
In an instant, Iris draws her Frost Sword and closes the gap to Platanus in just one step, slashing at him without a word. Not Katoarea, who had been fuming in anger, but Iris makes the first move.
Katoarea and Heath look on in shock.
As for me, I could clearly see Iris's swift attack, which would normally be too fast for the human eye. Just like when I was nearly killed by Amaranth, my current vishion isn't just about seeing well in the dark or observing Hori and Saffron in their invisible states.
Thus, I could also clearly see Platanus's reaction. Faced with the Frost Sword, he calmly extends his right hand.
It's futile. The Saintly Swords can slice through even iron. No ordinary weapon or armor can defend against them. And against the enhanced physical abilities of a Saintly Sword wielder using possesshion, there's no chance of blocking or evading.
Platanus should be...
"Deploy."
About to die.At that moment, everyone except Platanus was left speechless.
Iris's downward swing of her Frost Sword was stopped by Platanus. He blocked the Saintly Sword, known for its ability to slice through iron. His method was clear.
The Saintly Swords, all indestructible, cannot destroy each other. Therefore, a Saintly Sword like the Holy Light Sword cannot destroy another of its kind.
Platanus was blocking Iris's Frost Sword with a spear glowing green. This spear was clearly one of the Saintly Swords. It's odd to think of a spear as a Saintly Sword, but then again, my frequently used Pegasus Sword is a horse.
"Is that the Thousand League Sword, Longominiato!? Was that man also a wielder of a Saintly Sword!?" exclaimed Hori, even she was surprised.
"Hori. You didn't notice he was always nearby?"
Platanus had been around us all the time as Shion's tutor. Yet, even Hori, who can distinguish between ordinary people and Saintly Sword wielders, had not noticed.
"I was careless... I sensed he had the aptitude to handle a Saintly Sword, but I can only detect their presence when Saintly Sword wielders and their swords are in the same place...!"
That made sense. When Iris was kidnapped by Cineraria and her Frost Sword was taken, Hori couldn't pinpoint Iris's location.
Platanus had deliberately kept his Saintly Sword at a distance to hide the fact that he possessed one.
Iris, still attacking Platanus, who remained seated, swung her Frost Sword repeatedly. However,
"Hmm. As expected of a Saintly Sword wielder, impressive strength, but your technique is somewhat lacking. Well, I suppose it's understandable since you normally wouldn't face an opponent who can withstand more than one strike."
Platanus was parrying Iris's sword attacks with one hand.
"Iris, back off! Platanus is a master of spear fighting!"
As Heath drew his Thundering Sword and shouted, Iris retreated near the entrance, creating several ice pillars from her Frost Sword and rapidly launching them at Platanus.
Platanus calmly stood up without any hurry. The ice projectiles, undoubtedly much faster than any normal long-range attack like arrows or javelins, were all knocked down by Platanus using his Thousand League Sword.But it wasn't just that.
Platanus, with his free left hand, snatched one of the ice pillars and hurled it at Iris.
"Aggh!" Iris screamed as the ice pillar stabbed into her shoulder, but it didn't seem to cause any bleeding. "Oh? You're not bleeding... Ah, I see, your own magic prevents you from being harmed, similar to how Cattleya Instructor doesn't get burned by her own Explosive Flame Sword."
Platanus observed the uninjured Iris with intrigue as she voiced her realization.
"Iris! Cattleya Instructor! Never get within Platanus's range!" Heath, seemingly well-aware of Platanus's skill, shouted urgently.
Taking his advice, Cattleya Instructor, already wielding her Explosive Flame Sword, aimed it at Platanus and released flames. Platanus effortlessly sliced through the flames, splitting them in two as they burned behind him, scorching the room's walls.
"He... he cut through the flames...!"
"It's not that surprising. If you create a vacuum with the path of the spear, even flames can be cut," Platanus casually explained.
"Then try cutting this!" Heath released a thunderbolt from his Thundering Sword.
"That would be rather difficult," Platanus remarked, nonchalantly swinging his Thousand League Sword, diverting the thunderbolt behind him. The bolt, which should have struck Platanus directly, inexplicably veered off as if under his control.
"Impossible...!"
"You lack knowledge, Your Highness. Electricity flows where it finds the least resistance. If you create a vacuum with a spear or sword, the lightning will follow that path. Although your electric shock that slices through insulating air is impressive, it will naturally flow toward any vacuum present."
It was unbelievable.
Platanus was facing three Saintly Sword wielders simultaneously.
"Hori! I thought the Thousand League Sword only had the power to manipulate sound!"
"…That should be the case… Its abilities are to convey one's voice to a specific target and to capture sounds from any space… It's supposed to only allow communication with someone in a different location," Hori responded, equally astonished by the unexpected might of the Thousand League Sword.
So, the 'sound'-manipulating sword was overcoming 'ice,' 'fire,' and 'lightning.'
"Only capable of manipulating sound, huh…" Platanus looked at me and smiled knowingly."Ah, I see. So, you have somehow gained knowledge about divine swords. I'm not sure who you've been talking to, but it seems you've been conversing with someone invisible to me, gaining knowledge about divine swords from them, and then used that to locate the hero," Platanus said.
"…!" I was dumbfounded. What kind of person was he? He might not possess the combat strength of Amaranth who attacked us before, nor the danger level of Cineraria who could control monsters, but he was scarier than anyone else. His calm demeanor in such a tense situation was unnerving, almost inhuman.
"Platanus!" Heath stepped forward, pushing aside an injured Iris and an eager Cattleya Instructor, taking the lead on his own. It wasn't a time for the weakest of us, like me, to intervene, but Heath probably shouldn't be so eager either. While his skills were not inferior to Iris or Cattleya Instructor's, something about his luck or perhaps his martial fortune made me feel like he'd end up in a worse situation the harder he tried.
"Why did you try to kill Crow? No, before that, why did you hide the fact that you're a saintly sword wielder? If recognized as such, you could have risen much higher than now."
"…" Platanus, shouldering the Thousand League Sword, interrupted Heath. "It's precisely because of my ambition. After barely being given a handful of soldiers as Cattleya Instructor's vice commander, I was demoted to being your tutor. If it became known I wield a saintly sword, it would be taken from me."
"That's absurd…"
"Have you forgotten when Cattleya Instructor was stripped of her Explosive Flame Sword? The current royal family fears those who are compatible with divine swords as much as they fear the hero."
Platanus casually tossed the Thousand League Sword into the air, spinning it around. Watching this, Iris and Cattleya Instructor gasped in disbelief. Probably Platanus was using the skill 'Deployment' to remotely control the Thousand League Sword, a skill level that was terrifying. Unlike Iris and Cattleya Instructor, who could only directly strike with their saintly swords or use long-range magic attacks, Platanus was effortlessly mastering the functions of the Thousand League Sword to their astonishment."Your Highness, it seems you do trust Prince Heath, but everyone else is a source of fear, especially since there have been rebellions using divine swords," Platanus said suddenly, grabbing the Thousand League Sword that he had been spinning in the air.