Baron Kelven wiped the bodily fluids remaining on his face with his hand.
The reason Orobas gave him freedom was simple.
Having achieved his primary goal of rendering Lowell unable to fight, there was no reason to keep Baron Kelven bound.
Well, it was also a crisis situation.
Baron Kelven looked around, trying to assess the situation.
“What the hell is this situation?”
“Annoying bastards showed up. I’d like you to handle them.”
“Didn’t you say leaving it to you would be sufficient?”
“…There was a variable. Well, I eliminated the biggest problem, so I think I’ve done my part.”
Baron Kelven’s gaze turned toward Lowell in the distance.
Lowell, clutching her stomach and gasping for breath.
Seeing this, the corners of Baron Kelven’s mouth lifted slightly.
“To think she’d fall to a mere mid-level demon. The Lucid family isn’t much either. When you peel back the layers, they’re nothing more than lower nobles.”
Capital, blood ties, achievements, honor, talent, and so on.
They were only flourishing on the foundation of that infrastructure—their actual abilities were nothing special.
That was Baron Kelven’s belief.
“Do not insult other families. It’s a dishonorable action.”
“Getting defeated by a mid-level demon isn’t dishonorable? How laughable. Well, I suppose it makes sense, coming from the same family.”
“…”
“If I’d had sufficient infrastructure, I could have easily risen to the position of a pillar. Conquering the central region was just the first step toward that… if those bottom-feeders had just tried a little harder, I could have reached it!”
Magic energy burst from Baron Kelven’s body. It was the result of anger consuming his mind.
“Calm down and focus on what’s in front of you. If the guy nearby comes, it’s over. We need to wrap this up quickly and leave.”
Orobas, who had moved to Baron Kelven’s back, urged him on.
His single eye was trembling. He seemed to have sensed the energy of Caron rampaging not far away.
“Tch, if you’d done your job properly, we would’ve left already. Well, whatever.”
Whoosh—!
The blue aura surrounding Baron Kelven’s sword blazed to life.
Even larger than before.
“This is the answer for bastards who run wild without knowing their place.”
“Everyone be careful! Don’t carelessly cross swords with him!”
With Rodelin’s warning, Phase 2 began.
Actually, Baron Kelven’s Phase 2 was quite tricky.
Baron Kelven and Orobas—their combined defensive abilities were considerable.
Close range was handled by Baron Kelven’s swordsmanship, long range by Orobas’s [Wandering Storm].
By early episode standards, they boasted near-perfect defensive capabilities.
However.
Thwack!
“…?”
Baron Kelven, hit by the rock I threw, turned his head back in confusion.
It was because Orobas hadn’t blocked the ranged attack.
“W-well… I can’t block ranged attacks for a while. That weird-looking guy pulled some trick…”
“Then at least attack.”
“That’s impossible too. The attacks come back and we end up taking damage instead.”
“Then what’s the point of your existence?”
“…Mascot?”
“…I’ll have to kill you first.”
Now that I’d perfectly sealed Orobas’s attack and defense capabilities.
All that was left was to deal with Baron Kelven.
“Zero, can you provide support?”
Support? Of course.
“Keke, that will be a bit difficult.”
What comes after this belonged to the protagonists of this story, Rodelin and Alex.
My role ended right here.
‘Their story aside, Rodelin landing the finishing blow is the quest clear condition.’
I also had a plausible excuse for not being able to participate in battle.
I raised my left hand toward Orobas, then gripped my left wrist firmly with my right hand.
Veins bulging from the pressure. I frowned heavily and shouted.
“Kugh! I’ll hold off Orobas! You two focus on Baron Kelven!”
“Sorry! Just hold on a bit longer!”
Of course, it was a complete lie. [Wandering Storm] was a passive skill.
Far from being difficult, I was so bored I could yawn.
“Tch! Nothing but useless bastards everywhere. In the end, I have to step up to get things done!”
“I’ll take the vanguard! Alex, look for an opening from the side!”
“Understood!”
Currently, Alex couldn’t use aura, so he couldn’t cross swords with Baron Kelven.
As Rodelin concentrated with her eyes closed, aura bloomed on her sword.
Aura so clean it was refreshing. But compared to Baron Kelven’s, it was far too weak.
“Rodelin! Fall back immediately!”
“…”
“Run! Just let him go!”
Lowell’s argument had merit.
If they opened a path, Baron Kelven would choose to flee, and Caron and the instructors would chase after him.
There was no need to fight.
“…I’m sorry, but I cannot follow that order.”
Nevertheless, Rodelin chose to stand against him.
If they failed to capture Baron Kelven, he might become suspicious.
The reason a powerhouse like Lowell was defeated by a mid-level demon, Orobas’s inexplicable confidence.
The probability was low, but he might figure out the secret about the Lucid family.
“The youngest of the Lucid family, Rodelin de Lucid.”
“Hmph! You don’t know your place and act out. Fine, I’ll gladly face you.”
Baron Kelven was a lord who had gone through knight training under his father.
Though he hadn’t been able to focus on training after becoming a lord, even rotten fish was still fish.
He had the skills of a 6-star knight.
In contrast, Rodelin was at the 5-star level. In mana and combat experience, she was below Baron Kelven in both.
Clang!
“Kugh!”
“As expected, all show and no substance. Lucia, was it? That bitch is probably just like you.”
“Don’t… insult my eldest sister!”
“It’s not an insult, it’s fact! The hero! That position should have been mine!”
Screech!
Their crossed swords. A small crack appeared in Rodelin’s sword.
Just as Baron Kelven was about to slash through both the sword and Rodelin.
Alex’s first original secret technique.
Hungry Wolf.
Alex’s attack came in from the side.
Baron Kelven separated their crossed swords and dodged the attack.
“Tch! Annoying pests! Orobas! What are you doing!”
“No… I mean, attacking would be disastrous!”
Orobas glanced at me.
Though he was frustrated at having nothing to do, he seemed to be waiting for my mana to run out.
As was human nature, one should meet expectations.
“Ugh! My mana!”
I let out a pained groan and lowered my left hand that had been pointing toward Orobas.
And then.
“Finally, the time has come! You arrogant human! Die!”
Thunk! Swoosh!
“K-kyaaaah!”
“Kureeegh!”
Orobas and Baron Kelven both screamed simultaneously.
The thorn tentacles he shot bounced back and embedded themselves in Baron Kelven’s body.
Orobas pulled out the thorn tentacles embedded in his body and shouted.
“You bastard! You used trickery!”
“Keke, isn’t the fool the one who got tricked?”
“Y-you call yourself human? Toying with a demon! How are you any different from a demon yourself!”
“Orobas! Just stay still! You’re only getting in the way!”
Amidst the chaotic situation where each pursued their own goals.
And so, the real fight began.
“Why did it turn out like this…”
Lowell couldn’t understand.
She had lived to protect Rodelin. She had given up everything for that alone.
“Die!”
“Kugh!”
And yet here was the reality of Rodelin fighting to protect her.
The roles had completely reversed.
“Delin… run away.”
To Lowell’s eyes, Rodelin looked like a young child.
A six-year-old child.
Watching that young child wield a sword and fight was truly unbearable.
Even just falling down would cause serious injury, yet she was swinging a sword and fighting.
As Lowell sensed the approaching future, her vision gradually blurred.
Of course, the fight continued all the while.
Swoosh!
Alex’s thigh split open and a fountain of blood spurted out.
Baron Kelven had slashed through the thigh along with his sword.
Though he gave up his left shoulder in exchange, ultimately Baron Kelven had scored points.
“Alex!”
“Damn it…!”
“Fall back and focus on healing! I’ll handle this!”
Rodelin did her best to stand against him. But the difference in skill was clear.
Every time their swords clashed, small and large cuts appeared one after another.
Blood flowed endlessly from her forearm and thigh.
The moment she realized her feet weren’t obeying her, Baron Kelven rushed in.
Clang!!
Two crossed swords. With nowhere to retreat, Rodelin stubbornly held on.
Baron Kelven’s mouth split wide to both sides.
“You’re done for! I’ll cut you down along with your sword!”
Screech—!
Baron Kelven’s sword dug into Rodelin’s sword.
Finally, Lowell couldn’t hold back and shouted.
“Run away!”
“…!”
“Why are you fighting! Just run!”
If you had just stayed home, if you hadn’t dreamed of being a soldier, none of this would have happened!
“Just run!”
“…I cannot do that.”
Perhaps because her senses were sharper than ever before, she could clearly hear Rodelin’s words from the distance.
“…Why not?”
Why won’t you run away?
Why do you dream of being a soldier?
You, who were excluded from the contract with the Legion Commander and could live a safe and comfortable life.
“Why do you risk your life like this…”
Because you care about the family? Or because we’re family?
Or because of good memories from childhood?
But the answer that came from Rodelin’s mouth was completely unexpected.
“Because it’s our dream!”
“…!”
Only then could Lowell recall a memory.
—I-I’m going to stay with you forever, sister. I like eldest sister and big brother too, but I like sister Lowell the most.
—How can we stay together forever? We’ll have to work when we grow up.
—We can have the same job!
—The same job?
—Yeah! We work together, eat together, play together. How about it?
Rodelin, who had followed Lowell more than anyone.
Lowell had chosen the path of a soldier, walking the elite course to protect Rodelin.
And that dream naturally became Rodelin’s dream.
“You’ve been working hard all this time to keep that promise…?”
She was happy. That Rodelin remembered a promise she had somehow forgotten.
That she had chosen the same dream to be with her.
But even so.
“What can someone as weak as you possibly do!”
What wasn’t right, wasn’t right.
Not only was being a soldier a profession where one had to risk one’s life, but didn’t the family have the powerful contract with the Second Legion Commander?
She couldn’t make Rodelin bear that weight.
In fact, wasn’t Rodelin in mortal danger right now?
Just as Lowell thought it was all wrong, Rodelin shouted.
“You’re right! I am weak!”
So weak that she couldn’t properly take care of even her own body, let alone her family—a powerless existence.
Rodelin knew that fact better than anyone.
But.
“I will protect them!”
Her sister, her family, and everything she held dear.
Not alone.
“We’ll protect them together!”
Only then did Lowell truly see Rodelin.
Rodelin was no longer a six-year-old child.
That’s right, Rodelin was no longer a child whining while being carried on her back.
She was a fine adult.
And a fine lion.
‘When did she grow so much?’
She herself hadn’t grown at all since that day.
Her body, her heart, her spirit.
She hadn’t matured as much as her younger sibling Rodelin.
Still, at this moment, she knew better than anyone what she needed to do.
To cheer on Rodelin’s dream.
Praise promotes a child’s growth. And that wasn’t different for adults either.
Lowell thrust her fist forward and shouted.
Delin, that demon bastard.
“Wreck him!!”
Lowell’s cheering, heard after so long.
Rodelin recalled it. The memories of childhood and the back of the sister she saw every day while being carried.
The view of the beautiful path they walked together, seen from that elevated perspective.
Vroooom—!!
Aura spun violently in her core.
Crack—.
At the same time, Baron Kelven’s sword began to crack.
“Wh-what is this!”
It’s okay to fall and cry.
It’s okay to be weak.
It’s okay to rely on others.
What opens the path forward isn’t overwhelming power.
It’s courage and conviction.
“Haaaah!”
Crackle—!
Rodelin’s sword dug into Baron Kelven’s sword.
The crack in Baron Kelven’s sword began to grow larger.
“Damn it…!”
Thump!
He pulled his sword back slightly to break Rodelin’s balance, then extended his leg and kicked her in the stomach.
The two swords freed from their deadlock, flickering blue flames, Rodelin’s face grimacing from the impact, and her left foot slightly lifted.
‘Tch, to show such disgrace.’
Though he was slightly flustered, Baron Kelven was confident in his victory.
Rodelin’s mana was exhausted. Soon she wouldn’t be able to use aura.
A cracked sword? He could just replace it.
The moment he had time to regroup would be his victory.
But Baron Kelven couldn’t help but be shocked.
Thud!!
Because Rodelin slammed her foot that had been floating in the air heavily onto the ground.
Superhuman physical ability and powerful will.
Before Baron Kelven could even react, Rodelin swung her sword down.
Lucid Family Style Fourth Secret Technique.
Sky Splitter.
–TL Notes–
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What a beautiful chapter!
Zero craftiness and Demon Humor
But also finally the sisters relationship have a breakthrough! And the cliche power of friendship mental amp so rare in this novel feel pretty refreshing here! Last time something similar happen was whrn Zero pass Lucia test?