Chapter 742 – Lack Is Everything

000

Where it sweeps, traces like wheel tracks are left, following the patterns of the tentacles that make up the body.

The children, including Da Capo, had set up temporary bases throughout the empire’s territory and were living their lives following the slowly moving giant magic sword starfish.

In such a case, the traces left on the ground by the tentacles are a clue for them to follow, even if it is a magic sword starfish that disappeared from sight overnight.

In addition, the Magic Sword Starfish was unable to move at such a fast speed as a whole due to the weight of its own body, but things along the way remained intact better than expected.

The marks that are made on the ground actually have the effect of leveling the ground, making it easier for children to walk around.

Except that its purpose is to find and wield a magic sword that may be somewhere in order to quench its instinctive appetite, it is a creature that does nothing but good things for children, so it is understandable that, rather than hating it, they sincerely give it an honorific title.〈 Br〉

[How do you feel, Lillim? Can you see me from above?]

“I see it. When you get up to this altitude, it looks like a small dot, but you can tell it apart.”

Amelia’s voice flies directly into Lilim’s head.

The connecting passage between the two people created through Cleon’s imprint was able to transmit not only magical power but also intentions, and even if Cleon was incapacitated, it seemed that he was still exerting its power.

I had no choice but to say that it was fortunate, but the important part starts here.

Lilim’s flight was accompanied by a dangerous object that was not normally visible.

Those must be the six large potion bottles floating next to her.

It was yellow – no, from a distance, it seemed to shine like a metallic gold, probably thanks to the light reflecting from the full bottle. It looked like a bullet casing, one of the ancient weapons that remained in Lilim’s mind.

Well, if we were to classify it as an ancient weapon, the fighting method used by Lillim from now on is a bit too large in scale to be called a firearm, and since it rains something from the sky towards the enemy, it would be better to call it a bomber.

[Because the elemental power of wind has almost disappeared, the fact that the wind does not blow properly is actually helpful.]

＂Of course, if the wind is strong, you don’t know how far the medicine will fly… I can’t believe I’m getting help like this from the destruction of nature. I feel something strange.”

And while Amelia, who remained on the ground, looked at Lilim who was blowing her voice towards her, she herself was careful to keep a wide distance so as not to be hit by her paralyzing medicine.

I would like Dacapo to watch with a third party’s eye to see if the operation is being carried out properly, but she can only come to the surface after the starfish is sufficiently paralyzed.

When Amelia, who thought she had gained a sufficient distance of 100 m from her spray range, once again sent her signal toward her Lilim, Lilim also confirmed it in the air and then used her magic to simultaneously destroy the potion bottle without touching her hand.
I opened the lid.

When the potion bottles lined up on her left and right were tilted at the same time, yellow medicine began to fall towards her on the ground.

It would be better to call it a gurgle rather than a gurgle.

Lillim moved in a flight curve so that the entire body of the magic sword starfish wriggling on the ground could be sufficiently wetted by the liquid.

And the effect of the drug was just as Da Capo had said.

The drug, which instantly paralyzes the area soaked with liquid and the surrounding area, succeeded in stopping the movement of the magic sword starfish.

As his large body stopped moving from the part where he received the drug, his body, which was made up of vines, was divided into a part that wanted to continue moving and a part that was paralyzed and could not move. Instead of reducing the height above and below, the width on the horizontal side increased. .

It’s gross, but it’s like stretching the dough for bread.

＇If it stretches to the side unnecessarily, the distance you have to travel to find Cleon inside may become longer. Unless you spray the medicine a little closer and paralyze everything.’

However, it was not a good situation for Lilim, so she lowered her flight altitude slightly in order to get her medicine as quickly as possible.

That moment-

Whick! And a black tentacle swung up, reaching out as if aiming for Lillim’s body.

Its speed was similar to that of a whip used by humans, it was too fast for its thickness, and the speed at which it cut through the air was also threatening.

＂…!＂

[It’s dangerous, Lilim!]

It was a situation where it was possible to see what was happening even on the ground, but regardless of her surprise, Lilim followed her instinct and raised her hands and used magic to defend herself, avoiding being dragged by the tentacles. It was possible to avoid it.

The black, spherical shield that appeared to surround her body reflected the damage with magic that neutralized the enemy’s magic power, like Cleon’s Manashock, the moment it touched the enemy’s body.

＂Tch, did eating so many demon swordsmen increase your intelligence? Or is it just an instinct to survive?”

Even though she reacted as if she couldn’t attack Lilim, who cleverly sprayed the potion, as soon as she got close enough, Lilim looked at the magic sword starfish swinging her tentacles with disgust.

And thinking she had learned a painful lesson, she had no choice but to raise her altitude, giving her enough distance to effortlessly dodge even if her tentacles came flying at her.

As a result, although it took some time, once the potion was safely sprayed and almost no liquid came out of the six potion bottles, the vine child completely stopped moving.

No, to be precise, everything did not stop. Even though Lilim did stop, he could feel the creature’s clear threat of death towards him.

“Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything because your whole body has stiffened.”

And she sent telepathy once again straight to Amelia on the ground.

[The movement of the magic sword starfish has completely stopped, Amelia. Then. Please take care of yourselves later. As promised to Da Capo, I will prepare to move with the children.]

After seeing Lilim say that and start gliding down towards where she was, Amelia wasted no time and walked closer to the starfish, holding another small potion bottle in her hand. Br〉

When I got close to the starfish earlier, I didn’t notice any bad smell, but there was a sour, stinging odor that was probably from medicine.

＂Ugh…＂

Amelia looked a little nauseous, but she somehow held it in and at the same time, she drank the green liquid she was holding in her hand and made her body immune to the paralyzing drug.

It was almost at the same time that she swung the scythe in her hand through the vines and opened her path.

[Mr. Cleon’s magic reaction can be felt in the center of the monster. It is likely that it is trapped there along with other owners of the magic sword it has absorbed in the past. … Don’t be surprised if you see white bones.]

[Oh, I understand. Then, Lillim, I will ask you to do the rest.]

[No, you have to ask for it from me. Please, please rescue Cleon safely.]

Everyone does what needs to be done, leaving the rest to the other, with a little trust.

Amelia feels the touch of tiny tentacles wriggling above her head – the creatures that form the walls of the passage on either side of her – brushing against her skin.

Although it was an eerie and unpleasant sensation, she knew that it had no malicious intent and was simply there.

Now, I can’t have anything like sympathy for it – because I don’t have time.

She swung the scythe she was holding once again, cutting a little further with her magical blade – running toward the center of the magic sword starfish, just as Lilim had said.

001

“Okay then. Should we trust Cleon and wait here? Phew, I guess I can get some rest.”

Cleon, who had told the two about the weakness of Resia’s sword, walked out and confronted Resia, saying he would do it himself, and Rakshasa muttered this.

“If you believe that guy, you’re the only one who can do something like that.”

As expected, Cain expressed a negative opinion at Rakshasa’s words, but Rakshasa, who was sitting on the ground with Cain next to him, looked up at him with the corners of his mouth raised.

“But you said Cleon’s idea was ‘a foolish and foolish idea’, but you didn’t deny it as ‘nonsense’, right? In fact, you are the only one here who competed with the girl who showed her best… Didn’t you feel something?”

＂…＂

Cain’s face crumples at Rakshasa’s words that hit her right in the face, but she immediately raises her head and looks at Lesia.

“… Given that woman’s personality, I’m sure there might be some truth to what she’s saying. That’s what she said about the result of her entire journey until she reached me, who was waiting on the throne of the empire.”

The first time we received a report about Lecia was right before she acquired her holy sword.

She said that her village was attacked by the imperial army, and that she had her own teacher who died after her resistance, and that she sacrificed herself to save her one girl child.

And even after that, that girl came up in the imperial army’s reports again and again.

When I awakened the Holy Sword and earned the title of Hero, when I met the Black Giants and defeated them, and when I made the man who would later be called the Sword Saint and the heretic of the Tower of the Wise become my comrades.

While listening to the series of activities, Cain realized that Lesia was a warrior prepared to defeat him – that is, an opponent.

So, she must have been aware of the possibility that she could have power equal to or even greater than that.

However, because she focused on her power itself, unlike herself, who lost everything else, she cherished everything except her own power, and as a result, she acquired a power that surpassed herself.

The opposing results, which can only be described as somewhat unreasonable, lead to complaints that this world revolves around good people –

Cleon discovered her weakness.

And after hearing all of that, I had no choice but to admit it, even though I didn’t like it.

He said it was impossible, but the kid- Cleon could definitely win against Lesia.

It’s not something that comes from a simple difference in strength – Cleon also has the same type of strength as Resia.

Of course, that didn’t mean I wasn’t dissatisfied with it.

─Cleon’s body once again rushed forward like lightning.

His swordsmanship was unchanged from before and was an imitation of Talcheck’s swordsmanship.

One of the reasons would be that if he were to fight against Lecia and try to use her swordsmanship, he would likely lose because he was simply inferior in skill level.

But of course – this swordsmanship is closer to the fundamentals for me and is more complete.

It was also clear that this was an opponent that could not be defeated unless one did one’s best.

However, if there is something a little different from before-

Wow, something like black lightning was flowing from his sword.

It wasn’t that rare for the sword itself to be wrapped in magic, but what was wrapped around his sword now wasn’t magic – it was magic.

Cleon put magic into his sword, like the enchantment type of magic used by Lila.

His black magic has lightning-like properties.

＇In order to bring out Resia’s weakness, you have to forcibly close the distance and create an antagonistic state where swords clash with swords.’

Organizing the strategy in his head, Cleon strengthened his resolve to face Resia, who was creating a storm of sword pressure as before, and took a step forward.

Then, seeing Lesia take a step back as if to keep her distance, Cleon was convinced that it was true.

Cleon’s gaze continues to be fixed on Lesia’s arms, and he sensuously blocks the swinging sword. Even if he cannot block it, it doesn’t matter as long as it doesn’t cut vital areas or cause limbs to fall off.

Now we need to somehow get to the eye of the storm.

That’s why I didn’t stop walking, and as I took one step at a time, Resia, of course, followed suit and retreated.

In fact, it was true that on the outside, Cleon’s actions did not seem to be very meaningful.

Resia’s sword, like a great sword, is not a type of sword that becomes difficult to deal with if dragged into close combat, and Resia’s swordsmanship does not regard distance as a weakness.

The moment he got close, there was a possibility that Resia’s specialty kick would hit Cleon and eventually widen the distance once again.

However, Cleon’s goal is to keep her sword close to hers for a certain period of time.

For him to do so, he had to dig in close enough to swing the sword to her neck.

At the same time, every time, blood comes out, albeit little by little, from the cheeks, arms, legs, and sides.

The storm of vicious swords was eating away at Cleon’s body little by little.

However, Cleon did not stop his steps, nor did he stop persistently following Lesia and forcing her to retreat.

And if you look closely – it can be said that it is Cleon who is leading the composition.

What Lesia was looking at was Cleon, but there was something else in Cleon’s field of vision.

That’s right-

＇Thump.＇

There was no sound, simply because no sound was heard and Lesia confirmed that she could no longer stand behind her.

What was blocking her movement wasn’t some kind of magic, but small walls here and there in this seemingly empty ruin.

No matter where or how you look at it, it has no features – a wall created solely for the realism of the nightmare world.

If she is momentarily distracted by the identity of the object blocking her retreat, she will be unable to retreat and will be unable to block Cleon, who is heading towards her and entering her arms.

The result-

Kang! Kagagak…!

Just as Cleon wanted, Resia’s holy sword Kala de Bolg and her own sword collided as if in a power struggle, successfully blocking the storm of her sword.

Sparks fly from where the swords collide, and the two people briefly push the swords together with their strength.

However, as if to say that Resia was one step ahead, she slowly pushed Cleon away and succeeded in throwing Cleon’s sword upward as if deflecting it.

＂Kuh…!＂

And as a result, by digging into the gap created by Cleon, she made a shallow cut into Cleon’s side and at the same time escaped to his right and succeeded in establishing a composition that once again maintained the same distance as before.

Cleon broke into a cold sweat as he looked down at the blood flowing from his side, but he had expected that to happen.

However, with this, the conditions have been met.

When Cleon once again swung his large sword at Lesia.

As before, when Resia’s sword is swung back to strike it away.

Suddenly, magical sparks flew out from Cleon’s sword once again.

Then-

Resia’s sword was drawn towards Cleon, and the trajectory of her sword’s swing changed.

Normally, if Cleon’s sword was thrown away and swung immediately afterward, it would have left a shallow wound on Cleon’s arm.

Thanks to getting closer to Cleon, if the sword is swung like this, it may cut off Cleon’s head.

Then, Resia’s sword suddenly stopped, creating a momentary gap.

Without missing a beat, Cleon immediately swung Kala de Bolg down from above, then swung her fist and succeeded in hitting Lesia in the face.

When her magic-laden fist struck her in the face, for the first time Lesia did not step back on her own feet, but stumbled backwards, taking damage from her others’ attacks.
Succeeded in withdrawing.

＂Oh…!＂

Nachal almost jumps out of her seat as she looks at it, and Cain, though her face is still uncomfortable, twitches her fingers and watches Cleon’s fist go in for a clean hit.

＂… Haa─.＂

A loud sigh came out of Cleon’s mouth.

Feeling a strange feeling that the successful attack that was barely made was a punch to her face after several shallow cuts, Cleon looked at Lesia – her nose bleeding from the face that mimicked Lesia well.

This tactic was all well and good, but it had the downside of greatly weakening Cleon’s spirit by having to swing her fist in her face.

“I’m sure, it’s just like Talcheck said. … When Resia deals with humans, she unconsciously swings her sword shallowly.”

And, from Cleon’s mouth, Lesia’s weakness.

That’s exactly what she had because she was a good warrior – a part of her that was too soft to be called the strength of a strong person.

The weakness created by her kindness, ‘If possible, I don’t want to kill people,’ was overcome with her overwhelming strength and skills, but it was a very fatal weakness in interpersonal combat.

‘Complete absence of murderous intent’

That’s why her sword had to repeat this until she received a shallow wound and lost her will to fight.

Using her dark magic to create her own force, she forces herself to stop her sword.

It may have been a cowardly tactic, but this was the way to destroy Resia’s sword discovered by the sword saint Talchek.

Since she was born until now, she has only swung her sword once with the intention of killing someone with all her might.

It was only in the final duel with the Demon Sword Emperor Cain.

Even in the battle with Cain, his will to actually not want to hurt anyone was conveyed.

“As expected, it’s amazing. The fact that you completed the journey to the end with such determination is proof that you are truly strong.”

As Cleon said that, he looked at the illusion of Lecia taking her stance again and grabbed her sword in the same manner.

“… Let’s come to a conclusion. I have to go back.”

As much as the other person was an illusion, I hoped that she would not learn anything, but I was unable to let go of my pessimism about myself being absorbed by her kindness.