Chapter 63

It's the first of the new year!

Please treat me well this year too!

"Stop it...! <Ground Bomb>!"

The ground between Grain, who was kneeling, and Elka, who was about to swing her sword, suddenly exploded.

Though it was a small explosion, it was enough to take them by surprise, and Elka stopped her sword mid-swing and leaped back.

"Damn, I thought I had it."

"It's not that easy."

Tia rushed to Grain.

She pressed her hand against his wound, trying to cast a healing spell, but he groaned in pain.

"Sorry, I'm not very good at healing spells..."

"Ugh..."

Though she could handle an incredible number of spells, the one she was weak at was this healing spell.

The problem was that she didn't have a natural aptitude for it, but she could still control basic spells and use a large amount of magic to boost the healing effect.

However, even with that, it was only enough to regenerate the surface and stop the bleeding, not to fully heal Grain's deep wounds.

"You can't move for a while."

"Tia... facing three of them alone..."

"It's okay, I'll use that if it comes to it."

"...Just don't do anything reckless..."

Tia made Grain sit down and stood before the three with a serious expression.

"Hmm? You're going to do it alone? You might die, you know?"

"...You talk a lot."

"Damn... For a kid, you're really annoying!"

Tia, who wanted to point out that the other person was also annoying, instead activated her magic eye, which could see the flow and shape of invisible magic.

With this eye, she clearly saw something attached to Elka.

"Threads... They're inside her body..."

"...You have a magic eye..."

From the wound on Elka's shoulder, invisible threads had entered her body.

These threads had taken over her right side, and some had even reached her brain.

The ends of the threads were connected to Melar's fingertips.

Similar threads were also inside Arize's body, but unlike Elka, they had spread throughout her entire body, and many had entered her brain.

"<Puppet Magic>... Magic to control a body."

"...You got it. My unique magic can directly control a person's body. As long as there's a wound, I can insert threads and take over the nerves, making the body move as I wish."

"Does it not work without a wound?"

"You know it. That's right, there needs to be a wound, and I have to insert the threads through it."

Tia thought about the threads.

If the threads could move like tentacles, Grain, who was sitting behind her, might also be controlled.

However, there was no sign of that.

From this, she deduced that the threads couldn't be thrown.

If that was the case...

(Arize's rapier... The threads are definitely entangled with it.)

If she was stabbed with that rapier, the threads would enter her body.

Of course, those threads were also connected to Melar's fingers.

"Well, you figured it out. By entangling the threads with the sword, I can insert them into the body the moment a wound is made. If the wound was bigger, I could have inserted them deeper... But when I thought of this, I felt like a genius!"

"Indeed... a genius of evil ideas."

"Don't flatter me... And this is even better."

Melar touched Elka's sword.

The threads quickly entangled the sword, and in no time, it became a poisoned blade.

"Well, can I handle these two while protecting that person?"

Melar smiled cruelly and tilted her head.

Beside her, her two controlled companions held their swords, ready to strike.

Since the threads had entered their brains, they had no consciousness and could not be reasoned with.

Behind her was the injured Grain.

The situation was almost hopeless.

At least, Tia had not yet come up with a way to turn the tide.

She was just staring blankly at a single point.

"What? Are you escaping reality? Don't worry, I'll make you like these two soon!"

The two raised their swords and lunged at Tia.

Tia did not move.

She just muttered a single word.

"Long time no see."

"――――――――Ah, it's been a while."

"!? Behind!?"

Melar turned around at the voice from behind her.

But it was too late.

A red knife had already pierced the center of her chest.

"Got you by surprise, as expected."

"I couldn't help it... You were full of openings..."

"Ugh... How... When..."

Blood gushed from Melar's mouth.

The two controlled companions stopped moving and collapsed.

Blood also gushed from the wound as Melar fell forward.

Blade, the wielder of the red knife, pulled it out of her body.

"I noticed Blade was coming from behind... I kept releasing a weak magic to avoid being detected. You were so focused on controlling the puppets that I managed to fool you."

"Guh... No... way..."

Blade wiped the blood off the knife and put it away.

Tia, who saw this, had a question.

"? Aren't you going to finish her off?"

"No... This woman is beyond saving. I destroyed her magic organ. She just has to wait for death now."

The magic organ is a crucial body part for generating magic.

Humans have one in their chest, while demons have them all over their bodies, and beastmen have them integrated with their hearts. Demons are said to be skilled at magic because they have many magic organs.

While there are individual differences, Melar's magic organ was in her chest.

If it was destroyed, she couldn't properly generate magic and couldn't use it unless someone healed her.

In this situation, with her magic organ destroyed, Melar was as good as dead.

"I don't need to finish her off. If you have any grudges, why don't you do it?"

"...No, it's fine. I need to heal the two of them first."

Tia approached Elka and Arize to check on them.

Blade, after glancing at Melar, also moved closer to the two.

"Gah... Cough... I won't... die..."

But she stopped, hearing the pained voice.

Tia also reacted and looked at Melar.

Lying in a pool of blood, Melar was struggling to stand, her breaths shallow.

Every time she exerted herself, blood gushed from her chest, bringing her closer to death.

She had a reason she couldn't lose.

For her master, Fuyuma.

To be by his side until the end as his pawn.

She would do anything at his command.

She infiltrated a brainwashed village and forced herself to smile.

She pretended to be an adventurer for the village.

She even bowed to the man she hated, Setsu.

Because he told her to, because it was her master's command.

Even now, she couldn't lose.

Because he told her to kill, Melar had to win.

She had to take everyone's lives, even if it meant dying herself.

"Haha... I'll... kill... everyone...! Hah... Limit... <Limit Break>!"

A voice filled with madness echoed around.

"Hey, is that all you've got? Kagerou!"

"Ugh..."

I knew this would happen.

I was already on the offensive, cornering Kagerou.

It's impressive that he dared to challenge me with this level of skill.

Every time I hit him with Black Circle, he flies back.

"Hey... Why don't you give up? Go back and call Fuyuma. I don't want to keep fighting you; it's just a hassle."

"Haha! You're right, I'll give up. Fighting a strong enemy like you is foolish! I'll show you my full power!"

What?

He suddenly started laughing... What is he planning?

Kagerou, with his black sword, closed his eyes and began to channel magic.

What is he planning to do... I'm a bit curious...

"I'll give you darkness too... <Limit Break>!"

"...What!?"

Wait, wait, wait, wait!?

Can he use <Limit Break>!?

This is unexpected...!

I firmly held Black Circle, ready to defend.

<Limit Break>... The ultimate weapon granted only to humans, which breaks their own limits.

By opening the magic circuits that extend from their magic organ to their entire body several times wider than usual, they can handle a large amount of magic at once.

This allows them to use incredibly powerful magic that they normally can't, albeit temporarily.

Of course, the strain on the body from forcibly opening the magic circuits is immense, but the power gained is overwhelming... This technique is supposed to be the result of years of grueling effort... Who is this guy?

"This is the second time I've transformed today... It's not a form I usually show, but I'm willing to risk my life to fight you!"

Magic power burst from Kagerou's body, enveloping him.

The magic gradually took a black form, becoming a pitch-black armor, which was completed.

"<Armor of the Shadow Knights>... Let's have a second round, monster."