Chapter 91

Today is the second episode. Please be careful.

It has been about four days since then.

The investigation with Straw and the whereabouts of Giun and the others are unknown.

Since the bodies haven't been found, they must still be alive, but who knows where they are and what they are doing...

“Haa...”

“What’s wrong, Setsu?”

“Nothing, I just think it’s been dangerous lately.”

“Yeah, it’s scary. But I feel safe because Setsu is here.”

It was nighttime, and Mira and I had just finished some temporary shopping and were returning to the inn.

The reason I was with her was, of course, to guard her.

I thought it could have waited until tomorrow, but apparently it was something she needed right away.

Well, if I’m here, I can at least make sure she gets away in the worst case, so it should be fine.

“If a pervert shows up, you better protect me, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll protect you with my life, so don’t worry.”

“Ah... thank you...”

Her face turned red, what a precocious kid.

Wait, is that even the right way to use that word? Oh well, it doesn’t matter.

Just as we were talking, the inn was right in front of us.

“Oh, Mom and Dad.”

“Huh?”

Upon closer inspection, the innkeeper and the innkeeper’s husband were standing in front of the inn.

What could be going on at this hour?

“Mom! Dad!”

Mira ran out.

At that moment, I sensed something odd about their expressions and grabbed her shoulder to stop her.

“Huh? What’s wrong, Setsu?”

“No... what’s going on...”

“It’s starting...”

“Huh?”

My words were cut off as the innkeeper muttered something.

The two of them didn’t move an inch.

Then, a tall woman with silver hair that reflected the moonlight appeared from behind them.

At first, I thought she was just a guest.

However, seeing her wearing a garment like a feather robe and her terrifyingly clear eyes, I was certain.

This one is a Holy Sword.

“Setsu! Get away from them!”

“!”

I reacted to a voice that seemed to come from nowhere and jumped back with Mira in my arms.

Then, a gust of wind blew through the spot where I had been standing.

The next moment, a few strands of my bangs were floating in the air.

“Giun, thanks for the help.”

“My pleasure... Don’t let your guard down, these guys are pretty dangerous.”

Giun and Lamina were standing on the rooftops of the houses on either side.

Looking at the direction they were staring, I could clearly sense it.

These two are also Holy Swords.

“Huh, you’re quite skilled. Aero, Quake, reveal yourselves.”

“Yes.”

“...This is a bad situation...”

The innkeeper’s form changed into a woman with yellow-green hair and a feather robe, and the innkeeper’s husband’s form transformed into a muscular man.

Neither of them looked like the original two; they were completely different people.

“We were searching for the location where the incidents occurred.”

“Turns out... most of the incidents happened around this inn. There were a few exceptions, but basically, the perverts appeared within a certain distance from this inn. So we were planning to keep an eye on this area... but it’s a direct hit.”

I see, but I can’t believe it.

Could those two, who were so kind, be perverts?

I still can’t shake the feeling that something is off.

“Dad...? Mom...?”

More importantly, I’m most worried about Mira.

This is... too cruel.

“Ah, that girl’s parents have been dead for a long time. They were in the way of our plan.”

“A... ah...”

“!”

An unbelievable fact was revealed by the silver-haired woman.

What does this mean?

I had a hunch they were Holy Swords, but can they act so human-like?

There’s something more to this.

“Dad... Mom... uh...”

“Mira!”

I supported Mira as she collapsed.

But she was already unconscious, with a pale expression.

“Damn... you guys are really Holy Swords, huh?”

“Huh, I’m surprised. You know about our existence? Then I’ll introduce myself. I am the <Mirror Sword Mirage>. Under the name of Lady Clairsil, I am the one who will annihilate you ‘humans’.”

“Is that so... then I can kill you without hesitation.”

I hid Mira behind a nearby object and got into a fighting stance.

Unfortunately, Black丸 is inside the inn.

There’s no time to go get it.

“Will you fight me? If so, defeat these two.”

“I don’t need to trouble Lady Mirage.”

“Fool, receive the judgment of the gods.”

The two who were Mira’s parents got into a fighting stance, two at once, what a hassle.

But I have reliable allies on my side.

“Hey, don’t ignore us.”

“Shall we exchange blows?”

Giun took on the muscular man, and Lamina faced the woman.

“You can count on us!”

“I’ll take the middle.”

“Alright... got it!”

The two of them launched their attacks, splitting the two Holy Swords to the left and right.

They seem to plan to fight separately.

This way, I only have to deal with Mirage.

“Hmph... you split up. Fine by me.”

“What’s with that cocky attitude? You’re going to die.”

“Me? Impossible. A mere ‘human’... don’t get ahead of yourself.”

The pressure from her presence hit my body.

After training with divine power, I can recognize it.

This one has more divine power than Feribus and the two from earlier.

In other words... she is overwhelmingly stronger than any enemy I’ve faced so far.

“Please, at least put up a fight.”

“I’ll fight so hard that even if my limbs are torn off, I’ll still bite your head off!”

Without hesitation, I ran and threw a punch at Mirage.

She caught it with one hand and swung a beautiful sword that appeared in her other hand.

Since my arm was caught, I couldn’t retreat.

If it were the old me, this would be the end.

But I’m not the same anymore.

“I won’t let you cut me that easily.”

“! ...Huh?”

I also caught it with one hand.

Seeing the blade stopped by my palm, Mirage let out a sound.

“Raa!”

“Guh...”

With both arms blocked, I still had my legs.

I jumped up and slammed my knee into her jaw.

It should have been a fatal blow, but Holy Swords are not to be underestimated.

I managed to free my arm and escape, but she didn’t even stagger.

“Hah, it felt like I kicked lead.”

“I underestimated you. You’re not just anyone.”

“Looks like I was a hero, so don’t lump me in with the rest.”

That’s all in the past.

I don’t even need that kind of glory.

“Hey, why don’t you <Draw> your sword? If you don’t, you’ll die soon.”

“You know about <Drawing>? Fine, I’ll show you. I’ll crush you completely here. I’ve decided.”

Mirage readied her sword.

The power gathering is not normal.

I might have pushed it too far, but this is for the best.

If I can’t defeat someone like her, I have no chance against Clairsil.

“<Draw>――――――――――――”

◆◆◆

“Foolish human, how dare you interfere.”

“Shut up, I don’t know who you are, but you tried to harm my master’s husband. You must be prepared for the consequences.”

The female Holy Sword called Aero and Lamina faced each other.

Lamina’s hand was already on her sword, ready to draw it at any moment.

“You foolish... I, the <Wind Sword Aero>, will eradicate you.”

“Huh? Is that your name? Then I’ll introduce myself too. I am one of the Five Great Demon Generals, Lamina Sphyr. Remember my name until a few minutes before you die.”

◆◆◆

“Despicable one... you seem to be quite eager to die.”

“Huh? Me die? No way.”

In another place, Giun and the large man called Quake faced each other.

While Quake was tense, Giun maintained his usual nonchalant attitude.

“Are you underestimating me?”

“No, I don’t underestimate my enemies. I do what I have to do with the necessary resolve.”

Giun still had a smile on his face.

As if everything was going according to his plan.

“By the way, I should introduce myself first. I am one of the Five Great Demon Generals, Giun Raze.”

“...My name is”

“Oops, you don’t need to. Because――――――――――”

“!”

Quake’s vision blurred.

No, his eyes were rolling.

Losing his sense of balance, Quake couldn’t even stand and fell to his knees.

“――――――――――It’s already over.”