353 – Succession War: Redburn Territory Explosion Arc – 5

A wavering heart invariably creates an opening.

“『Ribbon Rope』, bind the Duke!”

“…Such childish tricks!”

Shalalalalash──!

The ribbons of the magical girl attire unfurled, multiplying into dozens of strands. The Duke swiftly swung his blade, severing half of them, but the remaining half struck true.

The Lantern of Foresight was useless. In his magical girl form, Roderus was completely shielded from its influence.

Whirlick!

Limbs were bound. Drawn taut, the ropes restricted the Duke’s movements, imprisoning him. Upon him descended Namgoong Cheonghwi’s attack.

“『Celestial Demon Descent』!”

Kooong!

Concentrating the Emperor Sword Style into a single point, he exerted a crushing pressure upon a confined area. The Duke’s knees buckled under the sensation of a giant’s hand bearing down on him. But he was not yet subdued.

Magic bloomed from the Duke’s grasp and the edge of his blade. Flames and ice, respectively, crossed in the air, fired forward and back.

Whirrruurrle──! Tzzzjjzzzzz──!

“『Pure Mirage』, 『Blooming Umbrella』!”

Kiiing──!

With a sound like nails scraping against a mirror, a duplicate formed of hardened magical power separated and raced to intercept Envers. Simultaneously, both the original and the clone prepared their defenses.

Pwang.

An umbrella-shaped shield of magical energy unfurled. The Duke’s magic slammed against the solidified barrier and was deflected into the sky.

“Thank you, brother… no, sister…?”

“Shut it!”

He’s bound now. Now is the time to deliver the killing blow.

Magical Girl Pure Knight wreathed her rapier in a blue galaxy, spinning it in a spiraling dance. A torrent of stars follows.

“『Starlight Stinger』──!”

Fwoosh──!!

Amidst a dazzling spectacle of effects, a barrage of continuous thrusts targeting vital points all over his body. Murderous intent surged, seeking the Duke’s lifeblood.

If even one lands true, he’ll be driven to the brink of death!

Then, the Duke forced his creaking body to move, and cried out.

“『I shall withstand this attack』.”

“Hmph, as if you can block it with mere self-hypnosis…”

Creak, snap!

Crackcrackcrackcrack!

In an instant, the Duke’s body accelerated. Moving dozens of times faster, as if someone pressed the fast-forward button on a video, he parried every single thrust of the magical girl.

“…What?!”

“『I shall break free from this confinement』.”

Creakcreakcreak──

Again, the Duke’s body accelerated unnaturally. In a blink, the ribbons binding him were sliced apart, and he slid forward, approaching Namgung Cheong-hwi.

Like a puppet pulled along by a string.

“This speed…even the eyes of the Heavenly Demon can’t follow it── *Guh!*”

Thwack-!

The Duke’s kick, carrying the full force of his acceleration, slammed into Namgung Cheong-hwi’s abdomen. The impact sent him flying nearly ten meters through the air.

Magical Girl Pure Knight tensed up, going on full alert. …What just happened? Was the Duke concealing his strength?

Having broken free of his bonds in an instant, the Duke adjusted his longsword’s grip and spoke.

“Which do you think comes first: destiny, or its realization?”

“What nonsense are you spouting, Duke?”

“Certain destinies are unavoidable. It is not that humans strive to fulfill destiny. It is destiny that moves humans.”

“…………”

The magical girl understood.

This was an application of the Duke’s fable, 『The Prophetic Lantern』. By imbuing himself with a powerful destiny, destiny would forcibly move the Duke’s body to fulfill it.

Because he was using it on himself, and not others, even Envers’s Kingly Swordform couldn’t cause information interference.

So, the Duke’s conceit was not invincible, then?

Nay. Could he truly unleash power beyond his frame’s capacity without consequence? The Duke… he suffers from the recoil. Had he been capable of continuous usage, Rodelus’s head would be cleaved by now.

I understand now why he halts the fray to expound upon his abilities. He buys time for his body to mend.

Then, rather than fear the unknown, I must strike. Now!

“There will be no reprieve!”

“Perceptive, are you? But I have already stolen a breath. *I Repel the Azure Rose*.”

*Screeeeeee-*

The Duke’s body accelerates beyond belief. Reflexively, the magic maiden hardened her mana into a shell, yet the strike was a fraction ahead of its creation.

Before the shield could fully form, the Duke’s longsword, wreathed in flame, pierced through it. The condensed fire at the tip swelled. An omen of detonation.

Rodelus squeezed her eyes shut.

*KRaaaSH–!!*

The magic maiden was flung back, tumbling across the ground.

—

“Ghk, kch… ugh.”

“Was my training… was it insufficient…!”

The Redburn brothers crawled across the stone. The Duke regarded them a moment, then turned his steps toward the carriage holding the children.

They are not finished, not yet. Should he approach to deliver the final blow, they might yet struggle, and thus, precious time would be wasted. It is best to burn the living sacrifices first.

Then, armed with absolute power, he shall complete the task.

*Drip.* Blood trickled from his nose. The Duke dismissed it, wiping the blood away with the back of his hand. His innards were a bruised mess, the stench of blood heavy in his nasal passages, but it mattered not.

“*Thermal Restoration*.”

He healed a portion of his injuries with the Red Tower’s healing magic. Soon, with a few souls to amplify it, he could be made whole.

*Screeeeeak.*

He pulled open the iron cage. Of the children packed within, he seized the nearest by the throat, lifting him. The boy gasped, choking, flailing as his windpipe was crushed.

“Duke…! Do not touch them!”

“Release him, at once!”

“Pathetic. I taught you that words alone achieve nothing. You are failures, losers. You will grovel in the dirt as I ascend to godhood. The execution shall follow thereafter.”

He could feel the innocent souls of the children. He felt not a shred of remorse for sacrificing them. In his eyes, they were merely batteries.

*Snap-*

The Duke broke the living sacrifice’s neck, and in that instant, devoured the soul–

“…cough, hack!”

*Pit-a-pat.*

He clutched at his chest, vomiting a bucketful of blood.

The Duke’s eyes wavered. An explosion had erupted from within him the moment he devoured the soul. It certainly seemed like a healthy soul, so what could have happened?

*Crack, crack.* The child, who should have died from a broken neck, opened his mouth and spoke.

“That’s a fake soul Uncle made, mong. The children in the carriage, all of them are fake people made of animals. Meat dolls.”

“…Faceless, have you betrayed me too? Even you?”

“She died, mong. Poor thing. But I don’t feel bad for you. You’ve done too many wicked things.”

“…”

*Thump, splat.*

The meat doll, disguised as a human sacrifice, shattered into pieces and scattered across the floor. Now, there was no one left in the carriage.

If even Faceless had turned, then the order to gather the black mages of the provinces would not have been fulfilled. On the contrary, they would have been wiped out. The named black mages had fallen one after another, and now, they were unreachable.

Then, there was no one left to support the Duke.

It trickled down.

The Duke hallucinated, seeing everything he had seized from his grasp flowing away like sand. Everything he had nurtured and built was collapsing.

Where did it all go wrong? Looking back, the smooth plan began to falter after he issued the order to kill the mad mage. Everything seemed to have twisted from that day on.

The Duke felt, ridiculously, a sense of fate.

It was all so futile.

“…Ha.”

And quickly filling that futility was rage.

“Kuh, hahahahahaha──!!”

It was all over. The Tower Master would soon be after him, and perhaps even the Sword Saint of the Empire would step in. There was no way to quickly acquire souls. Everything had been ruined.

Then at least, he would make those who betrayed him pay the price. He gripped the longsword so hard that the hilt splintered. The Duke twisted his face savagely as he turned around.

Roderus and Envers were staggering to their feet.

The magic girl hung her head low and spoke to the Duke in a trembling voice.

“…Maximus Redburn. You installed an evil magic circle to drain the souls of your own subjects, researched dark magic, and plunged countless people into suffering. Do you admit your sins?”

“Did you want to gain some self-comfort before your death? Yes, I did it. But Roderus, even if I admit my sins, it won’t change the fact that you will die.”

“──No. Your answer changes your fate.”

At those meaningful words, the Duke finally looked at Roderus properly. The appearance of a woman instead of a man, ridiculous attire. And the trembling voice.

The Duke thought the trembling was due to anger or fear. But looking closely, it was a trembling born of shame. A strange thing. Wasn’t that an emotion inappropriate for the situation?

The magic girl, Roderus Redburn, said,

“People of the Redburn Duchy. As you have seen and heard, the current Duke, Maximus, is a wicked sorcerer who devours souls.”

“…You. Who the devil do you–”

“Therefore, I, *Azure Rose*, shall punish the corrupt head of this house in the name of justice! Look upon me, and give me your support!”

*Whooosh*––.

Glimmering motes of light swirled around the magic girl. Her mana was being amplified. As if she were receiving mana from someone!

Caw- caw-!

The caw of a crow echoed from afar, and before they knew it, the mad mage perched on a tree branch, looking down upon them.

“Roderus, sharp eyes you have. Did you notice? The broadcast to the entire duchy.”

“…Pure energy was flowing in.”

“Pro–Professor… How long have you been here?!”

Indeed, from sometime ago, mana was being sent from an unspecified number of people. Roderus had experienced this sensation once before, during the final battle in the session.

Using the communication network linked by the mad crow, the mad mage had broadcasted the scene of Maximus Redburn attempting to offer a live sacrifice, without edits. His true face had been revealed to the entire territory.

And, the people of the duchy began to cheer on the magic girl who was trying to defeat the villain.

Pure energy surged in like a tidal wave. The azure light, so dense that light could not penetrate, rippled behind Roderus’ back, like wings.

Envers was also indirectly affected. Mana was supplied to his body, and the azure gleam in his eyes intensified.

Before the clash, Roderus quietly asked,

“Just to be sure, mad mage. How long has this been live?”

“From the beginning.”

“…You son of a b*tch!”

So, he had seen me transform!

Once this is all over, I will definitely beat up that mad mage. If the magic girl’s identity has already been exposed to the entire duchy, then I might as well go all in. Showmanship, I’ll show you! Roderus cried out.

“Yes. I, Roderus Redburn, the eldest son of the Redburn ducal family, will punish the corrupt head of this house! I will not turn a blind eye to the family’s shame and darkness. With my own hands, I will dispel all these shadows––!”

“Brother, no, Sister… no, Brother! Let’s go!”

“One more time you call me Sister and I swear I’ll turn you into a woman too, Envers. You take the left, I’ll go to the right!”

“Yes, Brother…!!”

*Thud.*

The Heavenly Demon and the magic girl charged forward simultaneously.

“Those who should have been nothing more than chess pieces, dare to––! *Four Calamitous Stars*!”

*Screeeeeech*––!

A complex magic circle was unleashed from the Duke’s hand. The magic circle, which encircled his entire body and rotated in interlocking patterns, then fired beams composed of four different attributes.

“『Magic Hardening』⋯⋯ Envers, cleave him!”

“Understood! Hoo-ah!”

Crack-crackle-crack.

Through Roderus’s ability, a portion of the beam is solidified, using itself as armor to defend. The light that strikes the angled edge splits in two, scattering away.

Envers cuts through that very center, charging onward.

“Receive my blade, Head of House. If you truly know nothing of the human heart, I shall carve it into you with this edge!”

“Do not presume, you failed creation!”

Clang! Kang!

The Duke’s precise assassin’s blades and Envers’s swordsmanship clash. Deadly techniques aimed at vital points are blocked by the upright, steadfast, and unbroken style of a prestigious school.

Through that opening, Roderus’s rapier is unleashed.

“『Pure Stinger』!”

“⋯⋯Ghk!”

Pshoo.

In an instant, a hole is pierced through the Duke’s shoulder. The Duke prepares magic to shake off Envers. A crimson, baleful light ripples. At that moment, the brothers switch places.

“Change!”

The magic is blocked by Roderus. The swords by Envers. With their organically coordinated assault, the Duke is left with no choice but to accumulate damage little by little.

Envers smiled. It wasn’t the time, but the laughter bubbled forth. It was what he had always yearned for. Look, hadn’t he become his brother’s right hand?

“I feel truly emboldened, brother!”

“Don’t let your guard down. As you know from when you were struck earlier, the Duke still has tricks up his sleeve!”

“Understood! I shall not cease until the neck of this fiend is severed!”

They intertwine.

Envers leaps, using Roderus’s magic platform. Envers’s timely deployment of the Emperor Sword Forms cuts off the flow of battle. And through that newly created opening, Roderus thrusts.

The Duke’s body is breaking. He suffered internal damage from swallowing the false soul, and it has not healed. But to stay as he is will simply lead to a withered death. He must break through, even if it means burning his own soul.

The Duke vomits blood as he pushes the Lantern of Foresight to its limit.

“『I, Maximus Redburn, shall be victorious』!”

“That, we have been waiting for⋯⋯!”

At that moment.

A small piece of metal flew through the air.

A mineral left behind where the 『Tower of Illusion』 had vanished. The 『Illusion Stone』 the mad mage had given to Roderus. It held a faint trace of illusion’s power.

『Phantasm Stone』 intervenes in fate.

“Eclosion – 『Magical Hardening』.”

To this, Roderus’ Eclosion takes effect. Imbuing the intangible concept of 『Fate』 with substance, alongside the 『Phantasm Stone』, lending it even a modicum of physical properties. Dragging it into the realm of possible interference.

The fate of victory was forged into the shape of a longsword. And.

“Eclosion – 『Emperor Sword Form』──!!”

Envers, with his own Eclosion drawing an illusory swordsmanship in the sky, now grasped that forged fate.

A myriad of emotions washed over him.

A life of subjugation. Born, weeping, growing, walking – every step was for the Duke’s scheme. They, the brothers, lived according to a predetermined fate. They were destined to die according to it.

But now.

Having experienced so much, ruminated, and finally understood the meaning of life, now…

He could grasp his own fate, and wield it as he pleased.

“UaaaH──!!”

Thwack.

“⋯⋯⋯⋯Keuh-heuk.”

Fate pierced the heart of Duke Maximus Redburn.

—

Envers lay sprawled on the ground, panting.

“Haa, haa… gonna die, gonna die, brother. Damn heavy, that was.”

“Rest, Envers. I’ll finish things.”

“Not bad, not bad at all, I thought. Uh, wasn’t it a good partnership? I think we were quite a good match. What do you think, brother…?”

“You weren’t a hindrance.”

“Haha…”

Envers, his lungs shrunken from a lack of breath, laughed, then choked, hacking for a long time.

Roderus released his transformation. And silently looked down at the Duke, dying impaled by fate. His eyes trembled, as if he couldn’t believe his defeat.

His lips twitched, but no words formed. He didn’t really want to hear them anyway. What meaning would a last will have? He’d just pretend not to hear it.

Roderus delivered his final farewell.

“Know your disgrace, patriarch. Your life was less than maggot’s swill.”

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

Thud. The Duke’s head lolled. Dead.

He had achieved revenge, but felt no particular emotion. Roderus was momentarily surprised by this, then accepted and understood. He had so many things more precious to him, that this Duke’s death held no special meaning.

Tiptoe, tiptoe.

Little White, who had been hiding some ways off, came tiptoeing over and nestled into a hug.

“Mommy-Daddy. You were cool-mong.”

“…Where were you, only coming now?”

“I played with Uncle-yong.”

“I’m getting the feeling the family tree is becoming ever more complicated…”

Had Little White been cared for by some crazed mage? Loderus absently stroked Little White’s head, then, sensing a strange gaze, turned. The source of the stare was Envers.

“What is it, Envers?”

“Mommy-Daddy, that is, perhaps. Could it be… did you, Brother, give birth to the child alone? Transforming and transforming like so.”

“…I’ll bury you next to the Duke.”

“I, I was just genuinely curious! I wasn’t trying to tease or anything…!!”

With the brothers’ sudden eruption into battle, the battle for the Imperial Seat effectively came to an end.