He kicked hard at his crumbling feet and threw himself forward. The white sword on his shoulder roared majestically as it cut through the sky.

　All I need is a moment. I'll settle this. I'm in time.

　With the momentum of his leap, he swung the white sword down. Two glittering eyes and two horns. As if to separate them, I shattered the hexenbiest's head. The hexenbiest's fresh blood ripples down my cheek.

　It didn't just slice through the neck like before, but pierced through the skull and jaw and shattered the spine as well. At the same time, he flashed his white sword without breathing.

　I don't know the logic behind it, but it's a hexenbiest that can survive having its neck cut off. It's either very stubborn or it's rigged. If so, we should at least try to make it immobile.

　You draw the tip of your sword and drive your hips while kicking up the opponent's bloodied body. It's a great way to make sure you don't get caught in the middle of the action.

It's not a mythical world, so let's get this over with.

　It's not a mythical world, so let's get this over with," he said hopefully, and then pressed the tip of his sword against the upper half of Dohasura's body, which had been cut off from the lower half and dumped on the ground. The feeling of flesh and blood, and the crushing of a heart, was certainly in my hand.

　In my experience, no matter how stubborn a hexenbiest is, if you take it this far, it usually dies. Even a hexenbiest made of mucus will die if you crush it to pieces.

　Normally, yes.

"...... is finished. Can I ask you one question to celebrate?

　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few.

　I thought it was odd to see no magic core, but it sucks. One speculation turns into a certainty. It's hard to imagine, but it's right in front of me.

　He's not a body, he's a spirit.

　I bite my teeth hard and spit out the blood that has collected in my mouth.

　I've heard that some hexenbiests can cut their bodies into platoons like an army. They have individual wills, but they share their intelligence and memories. A monster that can exist as a single entity, but as a horde.

　But such beings didn't really exist until the gods. This is ridiculous.

　I gave a small nod to Dohasura's words. Then he wiped the blood from his white sword.

　At any rate, he was already damaged. He can't do much good. At least that was enough for now, he thought. Of course, he couldn't look very good.

"Don't look so glum, even Hexenbiests have a heart that hurts, you know.

　Doha Sura said with a wry smile, as if she had forgotten the magical nature she had just shown. I wish you would talk in your dreams. I feel like I've been bamboozled by a smooth talker.

　He sets his lips and says.

"...... What do you have in your blood?　I couldn't get the bone fangs to come out right at the end. It's your fault, isn't it?

　Then Doherty wobbled his almost immobile body and looked towards the corridor. There, he saw Doherty's blood and my reddish-black blood, which had been poured in as if to mix the two. The corridor was a mess of both.

　I open my lips.

"Well, I was born in the gutter, you know. There's only so much bad stuff you can mix in.

　Doherty stuck out his tongue as if he didn't mean it. He looks like a dying child.

　Doherty continued to speak. I thought you knew what you were doing.

　No kidding. I'm not the Bible. I can't possibly know everything from the beginning.

"So you just happened to get your blood all over my blood and it's interfering with my magic?

　Just so you know, my blood is not weak enough to be swallowed by mere human blood. So Dohasura continued. His tone was somewhat light, but his eyes were serious.

　I narrowed my eyes.

I only heard that a long time ago. Witchcraft hates foreign objects. I've always been a hater, so I thought a foreign object would be just the thing.

　If Dohasura could conjure up fangs and bones from wherever he wanted, I'd be dead a long time ago.

　But he hasn't been able to do that, and in fact he's only been able to call up bones from certain places in the corridor.

　Then of course there's a mechanism. If I wanted to go beyond that mechanism and kill this guy, I needed to subvert that mechanism.

　So I came up with this ridiculous method of pouring my blood into the blood of the guy who seemed to be the medium from above.

　Hearing this, Dohasura said with a devilish smile on his face.

I take back what I said earlier.

　Before I had time to ask what he meant, he continued.

You are no longer a human being. I can assure you of that.

　He opened his mouth, listening to the sound of approaching footsteps. His fingertips unconsciously searched for a chewing tobacco.



"That's fine. Why don't you practice eating raw meat for starters?

　I'm sure you'll agree that it's a great idea.


　"I can't believe it.


I'm sure you've got a lot of faith in me. And his men.

　In the event that you've got a lot of time, you'll be able to take a look at the following.

　Her limbs are cold as if they were frozen. But it's not as if she can't move them. She can feel her fingertips, and if she can reach the battle axe, she can wield it well enough.

　Vestalinu let out a blood curdling breath and tried to catch his breath. I'm not sure if I'm in any condition to fight, but I'm sure I'm not.

　At the very least, she hadn't been wounded this badly since she was ripped apart by Caria Vadnick in Belfain. I can't say that I'm in any condition to continue fighting. Yes, you're right.

　Vestalinu thinks that it must be the work of an unthinking fool to attack the enemy with this wound. And yet, it's strange.

　A decision was being made in Vestalines mind that she would never normally make.

It's not a matter of believing or not believing ....... It's just a fact.

　Paloma responded to Vestalines words with a single word. She must have chosen her words very carefully.

　Vestalinu was sure. This man undoubtedly trusts his men, and is thus confident of their victory. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so carefree.

　Magic wards are not something that can be cast for a long time, and they will end when the mind of the magician wears out.

　Therefore, its operation must be supported by others. In terms of nature, it is not so different from a siege. And so, this guy is relying on that hexenbiest as his subordinate for support.

　Then there's an opening for this guy. If you want to make a hole in a solid wall, you must first put your blade into the wound.

　Vestalinu grasped his battle axe in his fingertips, staining the carpet red. Then he said.

"Let me assure you. Your men will be defeated.

　Wobbling on her feet like a spirit, Vestalinu forced herself to her feet. This is not the look of a fighter. Her limbs still ache and scream their limits.

　Either way, she can't hold on much longer. But for now, he must remain calm. Otherwise, his words will not be convincing. No, I'm better than anyone at putting on a mask like iron.

　Paloma doesn't say anything. So Vestalines says, scooping her out of her chest.

"How do you know all this, you say? It's simple. The man your men are facing is Rougis. The person your men are facing is Rougis Vriligant.

　Vestalynn could see that Paloma's eyes had grown slightly more fierce. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to do this, but I'm going to have to.

I know and am convinced that he is a man who will not be defeated. So no help will come for you.

　With a wobbly gait, he takes a step closer. I've had enough of swinging my battle axe. But then he took another step closer.

I wondered if he, one of the leaders of the heraldry, would sneak into a place like this with so few men.

　Paloma said, letting a heavy air escape from her mouth. It was as if she were spitting out the saliva that had caught in her throat.

　Vestalynn's cheeks relaxed.

　What's the matter with me, Vestalynn thought. I've always hated the way you deceive your enemies with your words. I loved the story of the knight who pierced his spear with justice in his heart.

　Now you're just like him. The treasure sword at his waist is hot. As if it were shouting something.

"Yes, I will. Because he said so. He said he would rid the earth of this prison.

　He took another loud step through the floorboards. Then, slowly, Vestalinu raised his battle axe. She raised her battle axe in the most graceful, yet intimidating manner possible.

　Vestalinu saw something like sweat on Paloma's forehead. But it didn't look like she was in awe of Vestalynn's appearance.

　Rather, he seemed to be reacting strangely to her words.

　Do you have any idea what's going on? Something of a dark nature. Vestalinu's smile deepens, dripping with blood.

"And the proof is that none of your men are coming to help-- Lugis will come to kill you. You're a blood-loving tyrant, and I think you'd still be better off if I captured you.

　That was undeniable bullshit, but it would put more pressure on the enemy. Besides, notoriety is already flying around at will, so why complain about one or two more?

　After the words, I saw Paloma's eyes shake. It was a definite upset. It was as if she was looking at something unbelievable.



　The jeweled sword at her waist was growing hotter. Was Paloma upset by her own words, or was there something else going on? It doesn't matter. All that mattered now was the fact that the sorceress had shaken her spirit.

　Vestalinu let out an exhalation.

　--At the same time, he swung his battle axe. It was a blow with unmistakable full force. It ate away a corner of the magic ward.