Perhaps, more like a sage.
While I was lost in such leisurely thoughts, Amaranth shattered the ice wall from within, brandishing her Demon Sword."I'll do it! No one else come close! You'll die!"
Amaranth, wielding the Demon Sword and clad in the Rakshasa Sword, charges at Geranium alone.
Despite the overwhelming numerical advantage, the decishion to let Amaranth fight alone was made in an instant by everyone present.
It may seem foolish at first glance.
I'm out of the fight, but there were originally five saintly sword wielders on our side, plus three more.
It's an eight against one battle. Anyone would think we should surround him and fight together.
However, that was not possible.
Amaranth charged at her former master with a determined spirit, and the clash of swords between her and Geranium was a repeat of her previous fight with Shion.
Despite it being night, the sparks from their swordplay brightly illuminated the surroundings.
The metallic sound of the great sword and katana clashing left no room for pause.
It was a duel of extraordinary strength and speed.
Joining such a battle would only hinder Amaranth.
Everyone present realized they were outmatched and hesitated to join in.
Their battle was that intense.
"…"
Having witnessed the one-on-one fight between Shion and Amaranth up close before, I understand.
In terms of sheer strength and speed, Amaranth, clad in the Rakshasa Sword, seemed superior.
Moreover, Amaranth was protected by the Rakshasa Sword, shaped like armor, while Geranium had to attack and defend with just a katana.
It was a battle between light and heavy armor.
Normally, the one in light armor would have to rely on speed to overpower their opponent.
That Amaranth surpassed even that speed is likely due to her maximizing the potential of the Rakshasa Sword, which can enhance physical abilities more than any other saintly sword.
In attack, defense, and speed, Amaranth had the upper hand.
"…Gah!"
Yet, Amaranth was being pushed back.
Geranium skillfully avoided and deflected Amaranth's slashes, targeting gaps in the armor with precise strikes.
Even though the battle had barely begun, Amaranth's footing was already covered in blood.
The difference was purely in skill.Deflecting a barrage of sword strikes from an opponent who surpasses him in both power and speed was possible only due to a vast difference in skill.
Indeed, Geranium is a class of strong fighter entirely different from Shion or Amaranth.
Now I understand that this is less about innate talent and more about the accumulation of combat experience.
The crystallization of effort from wielding the Timeflow Sword, a divine sword, for over five hundred years.
A martial skill cultivated over a long period by someone already brimming with talent.
No one stands a chance.
If anyone could, it would be Shion possessed by Holly.
"Jasmine. Please continue to heal Amaranth."
"Eh? Oh, yes."
After addressing Jasmine, who was in a state of shock, I quietly spoke to Cineraria and Saffron, who were equally stunned.
"I have a request for you two. You're the only ones who can support in that fight."
When I said this, both looked as if they wanted to say it was impossible.
Jasmine healed Amaranth's injuries from behind with the Healing Sword.
This balance kept the fight at a stalemate, but it wouldn't last long.
Once Amaranth's magical power was depleted, there would be no one left who could keep up with Geranium's speed, and we would be killed off one by one in the blink of an eye.
Literally, faster than the eye could see.
The lives of all of us hinged on Amaranth alone.
If Amaranth showed even the slightest opening or let up in her attack, Geranium would switch targets and reduce our numbers.
He hadn't done so yet because Amaranth continued to attack relentlessly, not minding her own injuries.
Geranium couldn't afford to pay attention to anyone but Amaranth for now.
But that would soon end.
When we lose Amaranth, our greatest force and the linchpin of our front line, we'll be like a house of cards collapsing.
Before that happens, we'll end it.
"…Geranium. Your game ends today."
Amid the storm of swordplay between Amaranth and Geranium,
"Amaranth! Use the Demon Sword!"
I shouted at Amaranth, who must have been in a state of extreme focus.
"…It's impossible! I can't use it here!"
Amaranth screamed back, indicating how difficult it was even to reply.Activating a saintly sword with destructive power like the Demon Sword now would, even if it hit Geranium, also result in devastating the castle and the town below with the attack's aftermath.
Amaranth's concern was likely causing casualties among the innocent populace.
Honestly, I didn't want to do anything that would disrupt the focus of the battle.
"Don't use it now! Wait for my signal! Get ready now! Be prepared to use it at full power the moment I signal! Wait for it!"
In an imperiously loud voice, I screamed my commands.
Although Amaranth didn't seem to grasp my intention, while clashing swords with Geranium, she readied the Demon Sword, causing it to glow, preparing to unleash black lightning at any moment.
Suddenly, Saffron, now invisible, attacked Geranium from behind.
"So predictable!"
Naturally, Geranium attempted to counter the approaching Saffron from the rear,
"!?"
But he froze, his expresshion one of confushion about what had just happened.
Saffron had clung to the back of the bull-like creature controlled by Cineraria, making both herself and the creature invisible.
The invisible bull-like creature, following Cineraria's directions, grabbed Geranium from behind.
Without hesitation, it leaped away from the spot.
At that moment, Saffron jumped off the creature's back.
The creature, now visible again, leaped towards the castle wall from the courtyard, then jumped even higher, breaking through the wall.
Geranium, caught by the creature, was now suspended in mid-air.
"Fire! Amaranth!"
"…!"
A massive bolt of lightning from the Demon Sword, illuminating the night sky, was released with a thunderous roar.
It struck both the airborne bull-like creature and Geranium directly.
The lightning was fired from the ground towards the sky, causing no damage to the ground.
"…"
I watched as Geranium disappeared without a trace in the air.
It's hard to believe he could survive that.
"Ah…"
With a clatter, the Timeflow Sword Geranium had been holding fell onto the roof of the royal castle, sliding across it before sticking into the courtyard.
"…"
I stared silently at the sword-shaped Timeflow Sword for a while, frozen in place.
As anticlimactic as it was, the sword, now without its master, unmistakably signified Geranium's death.No, he's not dead.
I killed him.
A man who lived and operated in the shadows for over five hundred years in this world.
"…"
I look around nervously.
He might not be the kind of man to die from something like this.
Maybe he's still alive, mocking us.
If we let our guard down, he might suddenly appear from behind.
Maybe a part of his body survived, and he could revive from that state.
As I entertained these thoughts, I stared at the Timeflow Sword stuck in the courtyard.
But nothing happened.
"…"
The eight saintly sword wielders behind me were all staring at me.
They watched intently, waiting for what I would say next.
Yet, I couldn't say anything.
I felt as if the Timeflow Sword, which had been used by the same master for over five hundred years, was vividly telling its story.
—You used the power of others to kill someone—
—Without any purpose or ambition—
—Despite saying saintly swords shouldn't be used in conflicts between humans—
For some reason, I felt as though these words were being directed at me.
The Timeflow Sword, now without its master, seemed to be silently protesting against me.
That's why I felt no sense of accomplishment.
Chapter 5/Epilogue: Crow
"Brother…"
In Shion's private room within the royal castle, I heard her voice for the first time in a while.