Chapter 0433 Ryo's Return
-x-X-x-
The two minions watched from a distance as the situation around the Djinn Garwin unfolded.
You could also catch some snippets of their conversation…
"Dammit, he's going against the Hero and the Demon Lord at the same time over there…"
"If it's Garwin-sama, there should be no problem facing the Hero and the Demon Lord."
Oranj enviously remarked while Isolde expressed her full trust in Garwin's combat abilities.
"Hey, minion. You were defeated by a human king, yet you speak of the Hero and the Demon Lord… don't you think you should know your place?"
"Huh? Coming from an elf who's only good with a bow."
"Sera… why are you provoking him?"
Sera teased, Oranj got angry, and Abel shook his head slightly.
Abel muttered quietly.
"You are starting to take after a certain premier duke, aren't you?"
Clang.
As Oranj swiftly leaped forward, Sera effortlessly blocked the swung sword.
"…An elf who can handle a sword to some extent, huh?"
"Is this it? Abel, if you're struggling against a minion of this level, are you getting complacent after becoming king?"
"Don't drag me into it…"
Oranj, Sera, and the reluctant Abel each expressed their thoughts.
"That's enough. Killing a bowless elf won't be worth anything, but I'll gladly cut off that arrogant mouth of yours."
"For a Djinn's minion, that's quite a serious line. Your usual demeanor must be quite rigid."
"…You guys know you're out of place, right?"
The duel between Oranj and Sera began.
But soon after the duel started, Oranj realized something.
(Seriously… is this elf some kind of sword prodigy? )
Sera's astounding swordsmanship… perhaps for the average person, it would go unnoticed, but not for Oranj. After just a few exchanges, he understood completely.
He took a step back and called out to Isolde.
"Isolde, give back the 'speed' you borrowed from me!"
Sera, considering a follow-up attack, became interested in Oranj's words.
"You can lend 'speed'? The realm of swordmanship has become quite something, Abel."
"Yeah, I think that's a realm of swordmanship I'm unfamiliar with."
Abel retorted to Sera's comment.
"That bad, uh. Well, okay. I'll give it back, so settle this quickly."
The moment Isolde spoke, a faint golden light emanated from her body and entered Oranj.
"Ah, finally."
Oranj said, swinging his sword once or twice.
"I see. Your sword flashes have become much sharper than before."
"Oh, you could tell. This is my true speed."
Sera admired and Oranj grinned in response.
But soon, Oranj turned to Abel with a somewhat apologetic expression.
"I apologize to Your Majesty. I wasn't holding back back then; I fought with all my might."
Though Oranj seemed arrogant and overbearing at times, when it came to swordsmanship, he was sincere.
That's why, after fighting Abel with all his might, he apologized for the lack of 'speed' at that time.
"I honestly don't want to know that your 'speed' was lacking back then…"
Abel muttered… as he finally managed to stand, leaning on his beloved sword.
"Roxley, I'll leave the female minion to you. She's probably immortal, so don't do anything reckless like a double KO."
"Understood."
Sera instructed Roxley, who stood protectively by Abel's side, believing that Roxley could handle a minion whose 'speed' had dropped.
Having to borrow 'speed' from another minion… well, it just goes to show the reality of things.
Apart from Sera, Roxley who excelled in swordsmanship in the 'Western Forest', was deemed capable enough to handle her.
"We don't know when she'll unexpectedly attack and try to kill Abel."
"My bad."
"Don't worry about it. If Abel dies, Ryo will be sad, won't he?"
"…It's not for me or the Kingdom, but for Ryo… well, I sort of knew that."
Abel's last words were so quiet that no one heard them.
And so, the duel between the minion Oranj and Sera resumed.
Oranj's sword and movements were incomparable to before.
To the extent that Abel, who had fought with all his might just moments ago, was left speechless.
However…
It was matched by equal 'speed'.
And unyielding 'strength'.
Sera, cloaked in 'Wind Equip' was no less than otherworldly.
"No way…"
"I hope there's more to it than this."
Surprised Oranj and smiling Sera clashed.
Their battle delved deeper into the realm of the supernatural.
Meanwhile, the battle between the Djinn vs. the Hero, and the Demon Lord.
The Djinn Garwin wore a relaxed expression, while the hero Roman showed a desperate one.
To an onlooker, their battle seemed almost evenly matched, but the difference in their expressions was, in fact, reflected in the difference in their fighting.
(What strength! Even with Nadia's magic mixed in, he remains unscathed. Especially…)
The holy sword Astaroth severed Garwin's left arm.
However, at the same time, Garwin's right arm gouged into Roman's left side.
"
In an instant, the demon lord Nadia healed Roman's side.
(This trade-off tactic. It must be intentional… Is the aim to exhaust Nadia's magic power? But Nadia is a demon lord… how much magic would it take to exhaust her, when even she doesn't know?)
While Roman pondered this, Garwin's left arm instantly regenerated.
Clearly, Garwin was enjoying the two-on-one battle.
At first, one of the Four Generals, Juke… who outwardly resembled Erwin Ortiz, took a step forward, presumably to confront Nadia.
But Garwin promptly stopped him.
"I'll take on both of them. Stand down, Juke", he said.
Juke nodded respectfully and stepped back, remaining still.
Compared to the other Four Generals like Oranj and Isolde, Juke seemed more obedient and docile.
(Not bad…not bad at all…but perhaps, it was still a bit too early?)
While clashing swords with Roman and battling magic with Nadia, Garwin pondered in his mind.
(As expected of a hero, his strength and speed are remarkable. His skills are also quite something… but there are still openings. Maybe in another five years… could it have been more enjoyable? As for the demon lord… indeed, her magic power and control are exceptional. She complements the hero well. They understand each other's movements, launching attacks so as not to hinder each other. But…)
Garwin shook his head slightly in his mind.
(If I were to get serious, I'd defeat them in no time.)
Garwin thought such things.
He wasn't arrogant.
Of course, compared to other humans, the hero and the demon lord were overwhelming.
It would be foolish to compare.
Well, even the elderly magician over there was fairly decent… But still, it was disappointing that he needed to chant spells, albeit fast-paced.
"Really…who says a magician must chant spells…?"
Garwin lamented from the bottom of his heart.
Suddenly, he glanced at the sword fight in the distance.
Garwin noticed Oranj had regained the 'speed' he lent to Isolde and was fighting.
His opponent…
"An elf? Hmm, for an elf, she uses a sword quite well…. She might be stronger than the hero."
Thinking so, Garwin considered switching opponents.
But then decided against it after observing Oranj.
"He seems to be enjoying himself… it would probably be too overbearing if I took that from him, huh?"
Garwin was actually considerate of his subordinates.
Even though he often shouted at Oranj.
(That elf is certainly amazing, but… if I had to wish, I'd like to see her mix in some magic with her swordplay…)
It was just a luxury, though.
In the midst of high-speed swordplay, mixing in magic was nearly impossible.
When using magic, one's attention would inevitably shift to controlling it.
Even if just a little.
Naturally, this would create openings in swordplay…
Hence, using both sword and magic simultaneously in combat was almost impossible.
(Richard used to do it, though.)
Richard was a man Garwin couldn't fully hate.
After all, he had sealed him away for over 900 years. It was only natural to hate him.
But at the same time, he was a man Garwin enjoyed fighting.
If it were a combination of the Hero and the Demon Lord , Garwin thought it could rival that.
Maybe in five years, it could have been so…
"Ah…I'll refrain from killing these two for now."
Their potential was enough to make Garwin think twice.
And Garwin was aware.
The magic power of the priests guarding that absurd alchemy tool that could heal the entire battlefield was running out.
Once it ran out…
"The absolute defense will be lifted."
With that judgment, Garwin's movement was swift.
Intercepting Roman's horizontal swing.
He 'caught' it using his body.
It was the horizontal swing of the Holy Sword Astaroth.
He hardened his body and wrapped his arm around Astaroth, completely enveloping it.
Roman was astonished.
Naturally.
This was an experience he had never encountered before.
Garwin, while catching the sword, wrapped his entire body around it…
Rotating his body clockwise as if entwining it with the sword.
It resembled a pro wrestling move called the Dragon Screw.
Where the attacker wraps the opponent's leg and rotates, damaging their knee. But this time, it was not a leg but a sword…
A technique unique to unarmed combat.
The arm holding the sword twisted, causing Roman to involuntarily release Astaroth.
Garwin seized Astaroth. Even though his strength was being drained by the Holy Sword, he paid no mind to it.
He rose from the ground and drove his right elbow into Roman's solar plexus.
"Guhaa."
The solar plexus, a vulnerable point where muscles overlap.
It's a difficult area to train due to the structure of the human body.
Hence, a vital spot.
Roman was sent flying.
Simultaneously, Garwin hurled the Holy Sword Astaroth at Nadia.
Even Nadia, the Demon Lord, couldn't perceive the speed of the throw.
Moreover, it was a holy sword.
An ordinary armor could shatter upon impact…
Clang.
But there was a sharp metallic sound as Astaroth veered away from Nadia.
"The king who refuses to die…"
It was King Abel who threw it.
His magic sword.
He hadn't fully recovered his strength yet.
After throwing the sword that supported his body, he knelt on both knees on the ground.
And he thought to himself.
(I guess…it was too much after all.)
As long as they couldn't defeat the Djinn, there was no hope for the Kingdom.
Against Oranj, the minion, Sera was slightly superior in battle.
However, even if she managed to defeat him, he would likely be resurrected by Djinn Garwin again.
Indeed, the crux of the matter was Garwin.
However…
Even the ultimate combination of the hero and demon lord couldn't win.
While Sera might be the best in swordsmanship…Garwin was 'indestructible' even if slashed to pieces.
He would regenerate even if riddled with holes.
And so… finally, the
The magic power to deploy the
Compared to
Rather, it was impressive that they held out for this long.
"At last."
Garwin laughed.
"Is this the end?"
Abel despaired.
"Well then, it's time to destroy that absurd alchemy tool and do away with the priests."
Garwin said, laughing.
At that moment.
The sky tore open.
And something emerged.
A resounding voice echoed.
"
Followed by another voice.
"
The next moment.
The Djinn and its minions were riddled with holes from ice lances.
Simultaneously, the Djinn was slashed by ice swords wielded by three figures.
"
The Djinn was further shredded into pieces.
As a result…
The Djinn vanished.
It was the return of the water-attribute magician, Ryo.
-x-X-x-
"Ryo!"
With a smile as radiant as blooming flowers, Sera was the first to embrace Ryo tightly.
"Hey, Sera, you came too."
Ryo also welcomed Sera with a smile.
"It's a national crisis, you know. I rushed here immediately."
"Not exactly the immediately, but…we managed to make it somehow."
Sera said, and Obaba-sama subtly denied it.
"The intention was there, at least."
"Mm-hmm."
Both Sera and Obaba-sama had come from afar, so it couldn't be helped.
"Ryo… I told you not to come back."
"Well, Abel said some weird stuff that got me panicking! Saying the Kingdom was done for and not to come back to the Central Countries anymore. You guys seemed to be handling the situation just fine without me from the looks of it."
"No, that's because at that time, neither Sera nor Roman nor Nadia had arrived yet…"
Ryo mocked Abel's last words from 'Soul Resonance'.
"Right, Roman and Nadia… Ah, they're over there greeting Merlin-san."
Ryo noticed Roman and Nadia greeting Merlin.
By the way, there was a coffin-sized box next to Merlin.
What was inside… goes without saying.
It contained something with enough energy to fill the Western Dungeon, which lacked enough magic power for long-distance teleportation… a Fallen…
And their conversation went thus, "It's been a long time, Merlin-san" and "Both Roman and Nadia have grown really well".
Merlin was completely in the position of a grandfather for the two.
"Merlin? That red old man?"
"Yeah. The kind Djinn serving as a strategist for the Demon Lord's army."
"I see, the strategist of the Demon Lord's army…huh? A Djinn!?"
Abel was surprised.
Naturally so. The one they were fighting until a moment ago was a Djinn.
"That's why he's a 'kind' Djinn. Apparently, he's different from the Djinn called Garwin that everyone was fighting… according to what Merlin-san says."
"Your Majesty, your sword."
Dontan picked up Abel's magic sword, which had been lying on the ground, and handed it to him.
Abel took it and finally managed to stand up with his beloved sword's support.
By the way, during all this time, Sera was still clinging to Ryo.
At that moment, it seemed that the priests had finally recovered enough to stand up.
Ryo looked at them and exclaimed in surprise.
"Isn't that… 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'? To have brought out something like that… it really must have been a full-blown war, huh?"
"Thanks to that, we managed to keep the front line from collapsing. Thanks to the priests and… Kenneth."
Abel said, looking at Kenneth, who was still sleeping next to the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'.
"Kenneth?"
Ryo looked at him with a puzzled expression.
Immediately, Ryo noticed what Kenneth was holding in his right hand.
Although the main body was already shattered and no longer there, the string attached to it for hanging around the neck was familiar.
"Ah… did he activate the stored Bullet Rain…"
"Stored? Well, it was activated without chanting. Is that alchemy?"
"Yeah. Despite being disposable, it uses quite valuable materials… and on top of that, it consumes all the magic power in the body."
"That's outrageous…"
Abel was surprised at Ryo's explanation.
"Because it forcefully activates the highest-level wind attack magic without chanting… But currently, it's not very practical, according to Kenneth. He only made prototypes. But for him to have used it…"
"He was amazing. He stood in front of that device and… with Bullet Rain, pierced the Djinn full of holes. It was meant to seal it, but the seal failed, and the Djinn regenerated…"
"Eh…"
At that moment, Ryo shoved Sera away who was clinging to him.
Why? Sera's expression showed her confusion as she moved away.
And then, she saw it.
An arm 'growing' from Ryo's chest, precisely from the position of his heart.
And blood gushing out.
"Guhaa!"
Blood spilled from Ryo's mouth as well…
"I know, the Fairy King's Robe deflects everything as long as it's wrapped in even a little magic power. But conversely, if you completely remove the magic power, you can penetrate it."
That voice was familiar to everyone present except Ryo.
It was the voice of someone who should have disappeared earlier.
The abominable voice of the Djinn… Garwin.
Ryo fell to both knees.
Only Garwin's left elbow and beyond pierced Ryo's chest.
Garwin's main body quickly regenerated a little distance away…
"Garwin-sama, resurrected."
The Djinn said, laughing, as he revived.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0435 Ryo Pierced Through the Heart
-x-X-x-
No one from the Kingdom's side could move.
No one could speak.
No one…
"Ryo…"
Whose voice was that soft whisper?
Was it Sera's…or Abel's…?
It was a really quiet.
But it was heard by those present.
At that moment…
Swoosh.
Another sound mixed in.
No one present could perceive it.
Ryo swung his sword, severing the head of the Djinn Garwin.
Everything came to an end, and only then did Ryo's movements stop…and for the first time, they could see.
Ryo's body.
Not even the flash of his sword was seen, let alone his body movements.
Of course, merely severing the head wouldn't kill a Djinn.
"Hey…magician. I'm pretty sure I pierced your heart. So how are you still alive?"
Garwin asked after regrowing a new head.
"A water-attribute magician wouldn't die just from having their heart pierced."
Ryo asserted confidently.
"Seriously… water-attribute magicians are incredible."
Garwin responded, taking Ryo's words at face value.
However, the reactions of those who had some degree of familiarity with Ryo were different.
"That's ridiculous… there's no way, that can't be true."
"Yeah, I don't think so…"
Abel and Roman reacted with common sense.
"If it's Ryo, it's possible!"
"Indeed, Ryo might do something like that! "
Sera and Ilarion responded, acknowledging Ryo's unconventional nature.
"He's showing us the possibility that magic and magicians know no limits!"
"Yeah he's cute, isn't he?"
Nadia and Scarlett's reactions indicated that they themselves were not ordinary.
Scarlett, the leader of the Valkyrie Knights' rescue team, had always been a big fan of Ryo, finding him cute…
The blood flowing from Ryo had completely stopped.
Of course, Garwin's arm was still piercing his chest.
His arm was completely frozen, though.
Ryo's movements were as sharp as ever.
Showing no signs of injury.
Injury…even though his heart was pierced…injury…
That sounds wrong, but…it's the truth…
Why is he able to move even though his heart was pierced?
Does Ryo actually have two hearts? No, he doesn't.
Can Ryo actually live without a heart? No, that's impossible, of course.
Normally.
What is the role of the heart?
To pump blood to the lungs, then send the blood that returns from the lungs throughout the body, and return the blood from the body back to the lungs…
It repeats this process.
It literally acts as a pump.
In simple terms, after having his heart pierced, Ryo began circulating his blood using magic.
He sent the blood to his lungs, then throughout his body, and back to the lungs again… all through the power of magic.
Of course, this was made possible by his proficiency as a water-attribute magician.
Furthermore, due to having
However, merely circulating the blood throughout the body wasn't sufficient.
There was a need for the right rhythm and speed.
Which Ryo remembered from his past
Just like how anyone remembers the rhythm of their favorite song.
Same concept.
Notably, Ryo can continue this forced circulation unconsciously.
Although he was quite conscious when he initially started the circulation after his heart was pierced, by the time he decapitated Gawain, he had already transitioned to an unconscious circulation.
This unconscious circulation continues even now.
When Gawain's hand pierced Ryo's heart, it also damaged arteries, veins, and even part of the esophagus.
Ryo has encased all of these in ice to maintain his performance from before the injury.
Truly, water-attribute magic is formidable…
"Quite fast, aren't you, magician…you're a magician, right? At least you look like one. Wait, you said you're a water-attribute magician. But, your sword is surprisingly fast…and it's the Fairy King's sword? A Water Fairy King's sword…it's my first time seeing it…"
"Ignorant, aren't you, Djinn Garwin? Nowadays, water-attribute magicians can handle close combat as well. If you're surprised by this, your minions will weep."
"Nah…those guys won't weep even if I'm sealed again."
"Is that so? That's rather pitiful…"
"Yeah…"
By the way, among his minions, Oranj and Isolde were pierced all over their bodies by Ryo's
They've been left as they are.
Normally, Garwin would regenerate them, but… perhaps he's forgotten.
One of the Four Generals, Juke, who took over Erwin and survived, isn't doing anything.
Except just watching Garwin's fight.
Apparently, there are various kinds of minions.
Ryo and Garwin were conversing while swiftly exchanging sword and fist blows.
Still, neither of them was giving it their all.
Which was understandable.
Both of them understood that the other is strong.
Ryo knows the opponent is a Djinn.
He's heard from Djinn Merlin about Garwin's strength and ferocity.
He's not an opponent to be taken lightly.
Garwin also understands that Ryo is strong.
After all, he was once obliterated by him.
Even King Richard never managed that.
Moreover, he couldn't even perceive Ryo's movements, let alone his sword flashes, and had his head cut off.
He's a stronger opponent than the hero and the demon lord combined.
Knowing your opponent is strong.
And going all out without knowing the opponent's hand is too reckless.
As Sun Tzu said:
Know your enemy, know thyself, and you shall not fear a hundred battles.
Know your enemy but not yourself, and you will suffer one defeat for every victory.
If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle!
Well, Ryo did go all out and cut off his head!
"Hey, magician. You know it too, right? Even if you make me disappear, I won't die. In other words, you can't win. Just give up."
"Do you know, Garwin? There's hardly anything absolute in this world. And the fact that you won't die is not absolute."
"But, I didn't die…"
"Just because it didn't work out once doesn't mean I'll give up. If it doesn't work after a hundred million tries, then I'll consider it."
"…Do you think you can make me disappear a hundred million times?"
Garwin was amazed by Ryo's response.
Of course, Ryo knows it too.
It's obviously impossible.
Moreover, even just surpassing and winning against this Djinn is difficult enough, except perhaps by surprise attack.
Ryo was waiting for something.
At the very least, without it, he couldn't engage in a full-scale battle.
For that to happen…
Since the start of the battle, Ryo had been glancing at the priests.
More precisely, at a certain alchemist lying under the care of the priests and the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'.
Viscount Kenneth Hayward woke up.
Everyone around him stood still, captivated by a single battle.
"Huh? Ryo-san?"
The muttered words were heard, and it was Rihya who turned around.
"Kenneth, you've come to."
"Oh, yes, Your Majesty. That's…"
"Yeah. Ryo has returned and is fighting against the Djinn. However, it seems to be a difficult battle."
Rihya was a former adventurer.
Moreover, she belonged to an A-rank party and always watched the battles of A-rank swordsman Abel with great interest.
Therefore, her eyes were keen when it came to battles.
She could perceive the 'difficulty in battle' that others didn't notice.
"And the Djinn's arm is still piercing Ryo's chest."
"Huh? Piercing his chest?"
Unable to fully comprehend Rihya's words, Kenneth watches the battle between Ryo and Garwin.
Indeed, something resembling an arm had pierced Ryo's chest.
"How is Ryo alive after being pierced through the chest…?"
"No idea. I guess it's because it's Ryo."
Such a convenient phrase. 'Because it's Ryo'.
"He's been glancing over here from time to time. He probably wants to pull the arm out…"
"Ah! He wants to be healed the moment it's pulled out, I see."
Kenneth also understood what Ryo wanted.
However, at the same time, he noticed the priests' pale faces.
"Could it be that everyone's magic power is…"
"Yes, because we were maintaining the
Rihya said so, then smiled and introduced the girl who was standing next to her.
"This is Nadia, a citizen of the Kingdom. She's the wife of the hero, Roman."
"N-Nice to meet you."
Riyha introduced, and Nadia greeted.
"Nice to meet you. Huh? The Hero's? wife?"
Kenneth exclaimed in surprise.
Upon closer inspection, behind Rihya, stood a modest-looking young man.
"And Nadia is the Demon Lord. As a Demon Lord, she can use magic of all attributes, so she can also heal."
"To some extent, healing is possible even from a distance… but, of course, it's impossible to reach Ryo from here."
"Oh, I can handle that distance…wait, Demon Lord? Huh? In the Kingdom, there's both the Hero and the Demon Lord?"
Rihya explained, Nadia added, and Kenneth was astonished.
The Kingdom of Knightley had abundant talent.
"Kenneth, this is top-secret, so keep it to yourself, alright?"
"Understood, Your Majesty."
Rihya hushed him up, and Kenneth nodded.
Then, while alternately looking at Nadia and the alchemy device, she continued speaking.
"Oh, right, Nadia-san was worried about this earlier, even if the distance is far, 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' can deliver healing. But Ryo-san…"
"Yeah. He doesn't have the friend or foe identification tag."
The 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' only heals those wearing the 'friend or foe identification tag'.
Everyone who joined the Kingdom army from the beginning of the battle has one, but Ryo, who joined later, doesn't.
Therefore, he can't be healed.
"I understand. I'll switch to manual mode and aim only at Ryo."
Kenneth said, then immediately began adjusting.
The adjustment itself wasn't difficult.
It was just a matter of switching two levers.
The problem was hitting a high-speed moving target precisely at the moment the arm was pulled out…
That's the difficulty of being both the shooter and the adjuster.
Of course, it was a usage that wasn't originally intended.
After all, this device is 'diffusion-type'.
Targeting only one person isn't part of the design specifications.
It's not, but…
"I can do it."
That was his pride as an alchemist.
And his determination.
He opened 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' and swiftly rewrote the magic formula.
Target fixation by magic power detection.
Automatic target tracking.
Propagation convergence.
Speed enhancement.
Maximum compression rate.
It had to reach and achieve all effects in an instant.
The moment it hits, the target would be moving.
Sustained 'continuous hitting' wasn't realistic.
"Alright. Here we go!"
Kenneth said, and the Demon Lord Nadia nodded.
In her hand, she held the magic transmission cable to the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'.
After taking a moment to steady herself, Nadia waited.
Then, Ryo glanced over.
He saw Nadia nodding slightly towards the group of priests.
The next moment, he pulled out the ice-encased Djinn's arm from his chest.
Without delay, Nadia chanted.
"
The magic was immediately unleashed.
It struck Ryo without missing its mark…
The gaping hole in his chest closed up.
The sight that unfolded before him astonished the Djinn Garwin.
"Hey…"
"Djinn, this is the wisdom of humanity."
Ryo said, somehow sounding smug.
Well, it was the result of Kenneth's adjustments and Rihya's intermediation… so it was a human effort.
Although the magic itself belonged to the Demon Lord…
"Ah…that tool for healing the entire battlefield. I knew my judgment to crush it was right."
Garwin nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"Ho-hoo~. So, you had your eyes on the 'Panacea Breath: Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'. Impressive! "
"Y-Yeah…. I don't get why you're talking down to me, though…"
Ryo said arrogantly again, and Garwin shook his head slightly.
"Well, that over there, is the first major collaboration Kenneth and I created. It's no exaggeration to call it the pinnacle of modern alchemy."
Ryo said confidently.
Garwin glanced at him with slight surprise.
Then said solemnly.
"Kenneth was the alchemist who turned me into a pincushion. Richard was an incredible alchemist, but you guys are impressive too…"
It seems Garwin had the maturity to appreciate good work when he saw it.
"Richard, the founder of the Kingdom, right? He could use magic of all attributes."
"That's right. Richard could use magic of all attributes."
"How envious."
Ryo's final murmur went unheard by anyone…
Or so he thought, but it was actually heard by Garwin, who was fighting in front of him.
"He didn't quite master water magic like you, magician. I must admit, the coordination that made me disappear was a first-time experience…"
"Is that so? Well, it's not that big of a deal."
Garwin praised, and Ryo blushed. Even in the midst of battle.
Suddenly, Ryo had a question.
The legend of 'King Richard battling the Djinn' was said to be a legend.
He remembered that.
The one who could resolve that question was right in front of him now.
And it seemed he could resolve it perfectly.
"At present, it is said that the story of King Richard fighting against the Djinn is just a legend."
"What?"
"I don't know the details either, but apparently it doesn't match up chronologically."
"I don't care about the chronology, but the fact that we fought is true."
The legend was correct.
That was now proven.
With this, all of Ryo's concerns were dispelled.
It was about time to move on to the next stage.
Some information had also been gathered!
But it seemed that the timing was the same for Djinn Garwin.
"It's about time I get serious."
"Yeah, my thoughts exactly."
The next battle between Garwin and Ryo began.
-x-X-x-
"
256 ice lances released.
And immediately, Ryo moved.
"
The moment Garwin chanted, all the trajectories of the ice lances flipped and flew back to their original positions.
"I see. Unlike the walls of the royal capital, the trajectory doesn't fly towards the caster but reverses…. Truly 'bending space'."
The ice lances, having made a 180-degree turn, returned to their launch point without heading towards Ryo, who had moved.
It seems different from the royal capital's walls, which reverse and automatically track.
Ryo could dispel the 256 reversed ice spears.
It didn't seem like he lost control over the magic, so-called 'magic control deprivation'.
"As expected, it's interference with space rather than seizing control of the opponent's magic."
Ryo muttered such things while swinging his sword.
Naturally, the Djinn Garwin also attacked.
"
But immediately, it vanished with paired annihilation particles.
"What?"
"It was just blocked by an invisible ice wall I set up to remain undetected."
Garwin grimaced. Ryo answers with a smug look.
"…So, you're capable of activating magic without chanting at all."
"Damn it! Each of my cards is being revealed one by one. This is troublesome."
"Yeah right, you should see your face… you don't look troubled at all!"
Ryo said deliberately, and Garwin shouted with a strained expression.
During that time, Ryo's sword and Garwin's gauntlet clashed.
A magic showdown within close-quarters combat.
However, Garwin lightly stepped back and created some distance.
"Well, can't help it.
As Garwin uttered those words, numerous thin black rods fell from the sky like rain.
Clang, clang, clang….
The sound of the rods hitting the
It seemed they lacked penetrating power.
"Gravity? Rods? Shit!"
When Ryo muttered, it was too late.
The multiple gravity rods stuck in the ground pulled Ryo in all directions, rendering him immobile.
"Even though I heard about it from Etho and the others…"
Ryo lamented in frustration.
But that was just for a moment.
"
As Ryo chanted, a thunderous sound reverberated around him.
Ice walls fell from the sky around him other than the center where Ryo was.
Forming a ring-like structure…much like a Japanese five-yen or fifty-yen coin….
All the gravity rods were crushed by these ice walls.
Except for a section in front of Ryo that hadn't fallen all the way to the ground.
It seemed someone had managed to slip between the ground and the ice wall.
"Why are ice walls suddenly falling from the sky?"
Garwin, who had slipped in, grumbled.
Apparently, he wasn't crushed by this level of attack.
"That's a mass attack that once even crushed wild golems… yet you took it like a champ."
"Don't compare me to a golem."
Ryo said, and Garwin retorted.
Then he grinned and continued.
"Is it something like this?
The moment Garwin chanted, another thunderous noise resounded.
Just like before, ice walls fell from the sky.
Leaving holes only where Garwin stood….
This time too, some parts in front of Garwin remained undisturbed.
As if someone had slipped between the ground and the ice walls.
"To think you can use water-attribute magic…"
Ryo said ruefully.
Surrounded by nearly transparent ice walls he had conjured.
"Because I'm a Djinn. Naturally, I can use magic of all attributes."
"That's unfair!"
Garwin said naturally, and Ryo naturally retaliated with a complaint.
"Have you ever thought about how someone who can only use one attribute feels?"
"Of course not…"
The world is unfair indeed.
"I'll show you the true power of water-attribute magic!"
"Sounds interesting."
With a teary look that suggested frustration… Ryo declared boldly, and Garwin replied with a laugh.
Of course, Ryo wasn't shedding tears…
"The fusion of Fallen Angel Alchemy and water-attribute magic, witness its greatness!
Two consecutive spells were chanted!
"
Another familiar spell was cast!
With that, Ryo swiftly invaded the distance between them and swung down Murasame.
Garwin caught it with his gauntlets, crossing his hands over his head.
But the moment he caught it…
"What… it froze?"
The area where he caught it froze.
"This is the
In simple terms, it was Murasame's unique skill.
Of course, Ryo didn't know if such a thing existed, but he had a feeling it awakened when Murasame fought the fallen angel in the Western Countries.
At that time he named the freezing phenomenon…thus.
By the way, specifically what he did was ask Murasame to "freeze upon contact with the opponent"…yeah, he asked his weapon.
So, it freezes upon contact. The world is filled with mysteries…
Freeze upon contact.
The effect is straightforward, and for a Djinn like Garwin, it's not too difficult to shake off the ice from his frozen gauntlets.
But if it happens every time he receives it, it could be quite troublesome.
And then…
"
A sudden downpour assaulted Garwin, freezing the rainwater that clung to him without delay.
"! "
Ryo sliced through the frozen Garwin's neck once again.
Because it was ice generated by his controlled magic, such a thing was possible.
Furthermore, not only the neck but also the arms, legs, torso…
All were cut apart.
It might be considered cruel if it were a human…
Djinn Garwin naturally revived.
But, his revival wasn't overlooked.
As soon as he regenerated, he was cut apart again.
"
Not just Murasame, but he also used Water Jet to cut him apart.
Respawn kill.
Every time he regenerated, he was cut apart in that moment.
Again and again, repeatedly…
Relentless in his assault.
Of course, Djinn Garwin revived many times.
Not just one, but there were instances where he appeared as clones or splits, sometimes even several dozen at once.
"
Numbers countered numbers.
How many times did such a struggle repeat?
But finally…
Clang.
"Ugh."
Ryo groaned with a frustrated expression.
Murasame was caught by Garwin's gauntlet.
The chopping finally didn't make it in time.
"To think, it took two thousand simultaneous revivals to finally slip through. I'm impressed."
"What a shame. I was planning to do it a hundred million times."
Ryo said in a voice that didn't necessarily sound like a joke, in response to Garwin's words.
Deflecting the gauntlet heavily, he leaped backward to create distance.
At the same time, he chanted.
"
"
The rain fell.
But nothing happened to Garwin's body.
"You evaporated the water adhered with Squall in an instant?"
"As if the same trick will work twice!"
Ryo was surprised, and Garwin roared, quickly closing the distance.
A frontal right fist punch. Followed by a left hand liver punch with the rotation of his hips. A Mongolian Chop with both hands…
When you name the techniques, they're a mix of karate, boxing, and wrestling, but naturally, Garwin wasn't bound by the framework of modern Earth's martial arts.
Hence the names of the various techniques…
Ryo received, parried, and dodged them.
An ironclad defense.
Ryo doesn't engage in hand-to-hand combat often.
The only high-level opponent he recalls facing is Ash Khan, the enchanter from the hero party.
Back when the hero party was staying in the capital, Ryo was often used as a sparring partner by Hero Roman.
During those times, he also sparred with Ash Khan, who accompanied them.
Perhaps those experiences were somewhat useful now.
(Well, since monsters usually don't carry weapons, it's safe to assume hand-to-hand combat, right?)
Ryo thought.
He doesn't pay too much attention to the opponent's weapon…
Of course, his fighting style still changes accordingly.
The shorter and smaller the weapon, the easier it is to handle, making it more effective in close combat.
Anyone can understand this when comparing a spear and a knife.
If so, then the ultimate short and small weapon would be one's own limbs', which excel in close-quarters combat.
In reality, Garwin's attacks are remarkably tricky, and his defense is also solid.
Frankly, if told to defeat him with just a sword, he would be at a loss.
After all, he resurrects even if chopped up…
However, Ryo is a magician.
The sword is merely supplementary.
Huh? Yes, supplementary! Do you have something to say about that?
When I say supplementary, I mean supplementary!
Once again, Ryo stepped back to create distance.
But this time, Garwin did not let him get away.
"Why do you keep trying to keep your distance!
As Garwin chanted, dozens of fireballs shot out from his outstretched right hand, heading toward Ryo… but from the moment they were fired, they began to freeze.
"What the hell, is this!"
Garwin shouted in anger.
Ryo smirked.
It was his
The fear of not knowing when he would freeze.
A psychological warfare by Ryo.
Once frozen, naturally, he would shred him to pieces.
Yes, Ryo is a magician.
But Djinns are skilled in magic too.
"Bury him!
In an instant, everything in Ryo's field of vision was filled with pencil-thin black rods.
Indeed, there was no other way to describe it than being 'buried'.
Gravity rods appeared everywhere, from the ground to the sky, in a 360-degree radius.
A ridiculous display of overwhelming with numbers.
The ultimate saturation attack.
Upon their generation, all previously laid
Tens of thousands of steam mines!
An equal number of gravity rods should have vanished too, but…they were still filling the area.
Each gravity rod emitted a powerful gravitational force.
Strangely, the gravity rods didn't attract each other; instead, they pulled towards the target at the center from all directions…in other words, towards Ryo.
Earlier, he had crushed them with ice walls…
"
Ryo chanted.
But nothing happened.
The ice walls manifested in mid-air.
They appeared but didn't fall… and remained suspended in midair.
Presumably, the effect of the gravity rods extended to the ice walls this time…
In other words, the creator of these gravity rods could select their targets.
Therefore, the gravity rods didn't interact with each other.
"Talk about fantasy."
Ryo muttered involuntarily.
Well, the fact that gravity and attraction are treated as magic effects is already fantasy.
Actually, magic itself is fantasy.
In the end, the world is a fantasy.
Gravity rods filled the space.
Ryo, unable to move.
He was in a bind.
But let me say it again.
Ryo is a water-attribute magician.
"
Garwin, closing the distance to deliver the finishing blow to the immobilized Ryo, rushed in.
It would either be a thrust through the throat, or a swipe to decapitate him….
But not a stab through the chest.
"It's too late to try to stop me with an ice wall now."
Garwin said with a menacing grin, attempting to break through the ice wall.
But as he tried to break it…
"Ah…"
His foot slipped, unable to gain traction.
Naturally.
The ground was covered in ice from
Ryo had a trump card.
It was information.
Know your enemy, know thyself, and you shall not fear a hundred battles.
What did Ryo know about Garwin?
It was his body.
More precisely, the moisture flowing through his body.
How did he know?
Of course, it was from Garwin's left arm that pierced through Ryo's heart.
Ryo had encased that left arm in ice.
The water from Ryo's ice magic had permeated every nook and cranny of Garwin's left arm.
Ryo understood the 'water' present in every cell of Garwin's body.
What could he do with that knowledge?
"What the? Can't move?"
Garwin muttered involuntarily.
He could control it down to the cellular level.
Of course, even for Ryo, it was impossible to perform such feats without complete focus on magic.
It was impossible during swordplay or magic battles.
It was only in situations like this, where he was completely immobile while the opponent was in sight and approaching, that it was possible.
It was quite difficult to set up such a situation.
But finally, he had set it up.
However, even if he brought about that situation, he still couldn't win.
Even if he controlled the opponent's movements, there was no way to deliver the finishing blow.
Even if he decapitated him, he would regenerate.
Even if he sliced his body into pieces, he would regenerate.
Even if he made him disappear completely… he would regenerate.
How could one defeat such an opponent?
Why could he regenerate even if he disappeared?
Here, one should recall the well-known equation.
E=mc²
E: Energy
m: Mass
c: Speed of light
Matter (mass) can be converted into energy.
= signifies equivalence.
Of course, energy can be converted into matter (mass).
In other words, something doesn't come from nothing.
It's just energy, which is 'something', transforming into matter, which is 'something'.
Energy and matter are essentially the same.
In other words, if the energy is gone… regeneration of matter becomes impossible.
That was the magic Ryo had cast even before he began shredding Garwin.
This magic continuously absorbed energy from Garwin through the water vapor in the air.
Garwin, who had presumably consumed energy with each regeneration, would have consumed many times more energy than usual due to this magic.
According to the law of conservation of energy, energy cannot be destroyed.
So, where did the stolen energy go?
An entity that craved vast amounts of energy existed here.
Although the fallen angel was technically confined to a coffin…
After all, the Fragments of God could be considered a type of energy.
And it is an entity that desired to obtain them.
Even the Djinn Garwin would awaken completely by obtaining Fragments of God from humans.
If that's the case, then within Garwin, there are likely a large number of Fragments of God…
"What a gruesome world…"
The water-attribute magician muttered, as if it were someone else's problem.
All the gravity rods surrounding Ryo disappeared.
It was because the Djinn Garwin lost his energy and became immobilized… and could no longer sustain the magic.
As a result, Ryo regained mobility.
It was almost unconscious.
Clang.
He received it with his sword.
The one swinging the sword was…
"Who is this child…?"
It was Erwin Ortiz, Duke of Shrewsbury, but Ryo didn't know.
But then he noticed it.
The aura surrounding Erwin Ortiz…
"No way, Garwin."
"You realized, huh?"
To Ryo's muttering, Erwin… possessed by Garwin once again, grinned ominously.
The original body once again became an empty shell.
"This guy has short arms and legs, so a sword would be better, right?"
Compared to Garwin's original body, which was about 190 centimeters tall, Erwin was shorter.
After all, he was only thirteen years old.
"In the end, it's still close combat after all…"
Ryo muttered.
Unknowingly flashing a smile…
-x-X-x-
The resounding clash of swords.
Ryo thrusts forward.
Taking another step and drawing the sword upwards in a motion resembling the character 'U', forcefully cutting upwards after the thrust.
He sliced off Garwin's right wrist.
But it was a trap.
Abandoning his right hand, Garwin delivered a kick at a speed even Ryo couldn't perceive, striking Ryo's right leg.
"Ugh."
Instinctively, Ryo took a step back with his left leg, creating distance.
The outer side of his right thigh was deeply cut.
Almost as if Garwin had concealed a blade in his toe, it was that deep…
Garwin must have judged that he wouldn't be able to close the distance all at once, especially after injuring his leg.
He casually picked up the severed right hand from the ground and reattached it to his wrist.
Perhaps due to it being Erwin Ortiz's body, it didn't regenerate, but it seemed it could be easily reattached even if severed.
"That's a cowardly move!"
Ryo pointed out.
"Well, even if you say that. That's just how I am."
Garwin retorted.
"
From afar, the voice of Demon Lord Nadia echoed, and magic rushed forth.
It was a healing spell aimed at Ryo through the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'.
In an instant, his injured right leg was restored.
"Well, you're no saint either!"
Garwin pointed out.
"Even if you say so. This is all part of the Kingdom Army."
Ryo retorted.
The battlefield now contained only Ryo and Garwin.
The 'Phantom Soldiers' created by Garwin had all disappeared, and his followers, Oranj and Isolde, lay defeated.
The only surviving Four General, Juke, remained within Erwin's body…or so it seemed, as Garwin had possessed Erwin's body and was now fighting with it.
Juke appeared to be still within Erwin's body.
Garwin, considering the events that had unfolded so far, naturally finds some aspects perplexing.
(Slipping was due to ice forming on the ground. I understand that. The problem is becoming immobilized, all the
The answer is unknown.
But realistically, that's not enough.
Something must be done. No one else will help.
(Well, whatever. There's a solution.)
Taking a breath, he muttered.
"I just need to kill that magician."
In reality, this answer wasn't logical at all.
If this phenomenon was caused by alchemy, killing Ryo wouldn't solve it.
However, killing Ryo and then 'asking' every one of the remaining humans might resolve it…
So, despite being completely illogical, it was a kind of solution to the problem.
There wasn't just one answer.
For now…
"It seems… I have to assert myself with force after all."
"If you have something to say, say it with your sword."
Garwin laughed menacingly, and Ryo responded with a smirk.
Garwin closed the distance in one go.
Invading Ryo's space, his opening move was an upward slash.
This was unexpected for Ryo.
Usually, the attack would come from above or with a thrust.
An upward slash was less common as an opening move.
Hence, his reaction was delayed.
He ended up taking the fully powered upward slash with Murasame…
Ryo, who is certainly not petite or frail, but slender compared to, say, a shield-bearer like Warren…took the slash without damage, but was blown away entirely.
If a force greater than Ryo's entire mass is applied, there's no choice but to be blown away.
If this was anticipated as an attack, there might have been a way to counter it before the force reached its peak, like redirecting the sword that was being lifted…
Ryo was sent flying.
Naturally, Garwin followed up with an attack.
Swiftly sprinting to where Ryo was blown, Garwin thrust his sword upward.
Whoosh.
Ryo wasn't there.
At that moment, Garwin leaped forward and, unexpectedly, took a defensive stance, rising back up.
It wasn't a thought-out action.
His body moved unconsciously, driven by accumulated experience.
An ice sword sliced through where Garwin had been.
Garwin's intuition was right.
And his intuition sounded another warning.
'Watch out'.
Ryo, enveloped in fine water particles by
His first move was an upward slash, just like Garwin's.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Shouting angrily, Garwin completely parried Ryo's upward slash and tried to counterattack.
However…
The ice sword slipped through Garwin's sword.
"No way."
Garwin realized that the blade Ryo wielded was generated by magic, but…it was too late.
A single stroke.
Slashing from left waist to right shoulder.
Followed by a returning strike, severing the head.
(Dammit! No regeneration or rejoining! My power is indeed diminishing. But it's not over yet, not by a long shot.)
Despite being decapitated, the body remained suspended in the air, facing Ryo directly.
Garwin chanted.
"
It was a spell to crush the target with abnormal gravity.
However…
The gravity, akin to a pseudo-black hole, was generated but didn't behave as expected.
"Why?"
This was an unexpected situation for Garwin too.
However, he soon realized.
The flow of magic power in this body was abnormal.
"I can't control the magic power in this body? Juke?"
Addressing Juke, one of the Four Generals who had taken over the body of Erwin Ortiz and was controlling it, Garwin spoke and call out to him.
"This body… is mine… I won't let you do as you please."
His mouth moved, and those words were spoken.
But it wasn't Garwin's voice.
The voice of a young man, corresponding to the appearance…
"I can't believe in this situation… it's been snatched back by the duke brat…"
This time, it was Garwin's voice.
From one body, the voices of a young man and a Djinn alternated.
And the young voice said…
"I am Erwin Ortiz, Duke of Shrewsbury, a noble of the Kingdom. I won't allow you Djinn to have your way."
"Dammit. Hey, Duke, let go of the magic power. If you keep this up, it'll go out of control."
Garwin's voice sounded panicked in response to Erwin's voice.
From an outsider's perspective, it appears like one person playing two roles, creating a surreal scene…
However, Garwin, who understands the situation, was genuinely anxious.
Due to
In this situation, half of the magic control had been lost. And the lost half was running wild.
Gravity bends space.
Even without knowing the theory of relativity, Garwin, who has used it many times before, knows that the two are closely related.
Thus, among the Djinn experts who handle gravity, some can bend space and teleport.
If this continues, the caster himself will be sent to some random space.
Furthermore…
The rampaging magic power is drawn to a powerful force.
Like lightning striking a high place…
Could that powerful force be… the water-attribute magician who was fighting moments ago?
That's certainly true, but rampaging magic power tends to gravitate toward objects rather than creatures like humans or Djinns.
One such object with immense power… was the absurd alchemy device that was healing the entire battlefield.
If the rampaging Implosion were to collide with it… would the surrounding area vanish…?
Or would it be sent somewhere else?
The nature of a rampaging spell is unpredictable.
Even for Garwin, who has been using this magic for a long time…
"Hey, you priests! Get away from that contraption! The rampaging magic power is being drawn to it!"
Garwin said earnestly, truly believing it to be the case.
Originally, he planned to collect Fragments of God in this eastern region of the Kingdom for his complete awakening… but that plan had been completely derailed.
Instead, he found himself in a situation where he couldn't even move his own body.
Moreover, it was he who had cast the Implosion spell.
Because he lost control of his magic here, regardless of where the Implosion runs wild, Garwin himself would inevitably disappear from this place.
Ultimately, he couldn't obtain the Fragments of God.
So, he gave up.
It didn't matter what happened, he wouldn't die…
And if he couldn't awaken, then it didn't matter what happened to the humans either…
It didn't matter.
But somehow, he felt uneasy about the idea of the entire area disappearing.
Garwin, cruel and driven by destructive impulses, had killed many humans in the past.
But perhaps karma finally caught up to him.
The priests didn't move a muscle upon hearing Garwin's voice.
They didn't trust him.
It couldn't be helped.
After all, he had done so much.
"Damn it…"
"No!"
A voice cried out.
It was the water-attribute magician.
"Not there, go over there!"
And so on.
"Huh? What…?"
Rampaging magic power tends to gravitate towards objects with powerful forces.
And the most fitting candidate in this situation would be that alchemy device, wouldn't it?
But then Garwin realized.
He had made a big oversight.
"I see…. Richard's 'Ex' was there."
King Abel still stood, supported by his sword.
Although it was disguised as a magic sword, it was originally King Richard's sword…
"Abel!"
Ryo yelled as he flew towards Abel with
Then, all sound disappeared.
And then… five figures disappeared from the scene.
Djinn Garwin's main body.
Four Generals Oranj's body.
Four Generals Isolde's body.
And Abel.
And Ryo.
"Abel…"
Rihya muttered.
"Ryo…"
Sera muttered.
Abel and Ryo disappeared.
-x-X-x-
Extra 2
-x-X-x-
Ryo and Abel disappeared.
Everyone was too stunned to react for a moment.
In the midst of that, the first to act was the genius alchemist, Viscount Kenneth Hayward.
"Abel, Ryo-san…. Abel should have a friend or foe identification tag!"
He murmured softly and immediately began to act.
He jumped onto the 'Panacea Breath: Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' and began rewriting some of the magic formulas before rebooting it.
Then, he collected data.
The data that was spat out.
"Abel is not within a radius of fifty kilometers."
He muttered, beginning to think.
Somehow, he felt like the two of them were together.
And what they were caught up in was a kind of teleportation.
As long as they were in this world, communication should be possible.
"Ryo-san's alchemy level is very high…"
Viscount Kenneth Hayward is the leading alchemist of the Kingdom.
It's not an exaggeration to say that he represents not just the Kingdom, but also the Central Countries.
He is only rivaled by Frank de Verde of the Union…
That's the general consensus.
And it's mostly correct.
But… the parties involved have a different perspective.
"Ryo-san has mastered alchemy of a different concept than mine, and he even has ideas I wouldn't have come up with myself."
That's the highest praise he could possibly give.
What now?
Certainly, he may have different ideas, but he'll likely adapt to Kenneth's.
Ryo Mihara, Duke of Rondo is that kind of person.
"Alchemy that transcends distances…. Sure enough, the only thing that comes to mind is 'Soul Resonance'."
Kenneth continued his train of thought.
Considering what he would do.
He believed that Ryo's alchemy would eventually reach his level.
The conclusion he arrived at was to use Soul Resonance.
Of course, The Soul Resonance targer is 'Abel'.
And Abel was not there.
Even if Ryo were to rewrite the magic formula for Soul Resonance and transmit it, there was no one there who could receive it.
However…
"There's no other choice."
Kenneth murmured, looking around.
He found his subordinate, Radden, who was still dazed.
"Radden! I'm heading back to the royal capital right away. You'll need to work with the priests and bring the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' back to the royal capital."
"Huh… uh, yes. Um, what about you, sir?"
"I'll return to the royal capital and make various arrangements to receive communications from His Majesty and Ryo-san. Please, take care of the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess'."
With that, Kenneth mounted his horse and galloped towards the royal capital.
Almost simultaneously, Sera began to move.
When Ryo and Abel disappeared, she murmured "Ryo…" in a daze.
A few moments later, she snapped back to reality.
Then, she muttered to herself, confirming something in her mind.
"It's okay…. He'll be okay…"
Finally, she nodded firmly and looked around.
When she spotted the person she was looking for, she approached.
It was Queen Rihya.
She was sitting powerlessly next to the huge alchemy device.
Viscount Kenneth Hayward had jumped onto it and was tinkering with something.
He was probably trying to detect a reaction from Abel or Ryo.
She left that to Kenneth.
Sera headed towards where Rihya was sitting.
"Rihya."
She called out gently.
Sera could understand Rihya's feelings all too well.
Anyone would be confused, anxious, and saddened when their beloved suddenly disappeared before their eyes.
"Sera… Abel… Abel…"
Those were the first words to escape Rihya's lips.
"Yeah…"
Sera replied softly and then gently embraced Rihya.
Both of them were once widely known B-ranked adventurers.
Rihya was a saintess and now a queen.
While Sera was a renowned elf, representing the western forest and one of the most famous in the Central Countries.
Both are well-known throughout the Central Countries.
But they were also both women who had lost their beloved in front of their eyes.
Rihya cried on Sera's shoulder.
Sera didn't say anything or do anything; she just lent her shoulder.
It wasn't for long.
Rihya wiped her tears and spoke
"Thank you, Sera."
"Don't mention it."
Sera replied before continuing.
"It might be strange to say this now, but Rihya, everything will be okay."
"Huh?"
Rihya didn't understand what Sera meant.
And that was natural.
Both of them had disappeared.
"I have a feeling Ryo is alive. I'm almost certain of it."
Sera asserted.
Rihya couldn't say anything in response.
"I think Ryo and Abel were sent to the same place."
"Sent?"
"Yeah. It looked like teleportation. So, if they're together, they'll be fine."
Sera said confidently, even smiling.
Seeing that, Rihya also understood.
Indeed, if those two were together, everything would be fine.
"Ryo wouldn't let Abel die."
"Yeah…you're right. I'm sure Ryo will protect Abel no matter what."
Sera said, and Rihya nodded in agreement.
It wasn't a logical conclusion.
But both of them arrived at the same one.
As long as those two were together, everything would be fine.
"What we need to do is protect the country until Abel and Ryo return."
"Yeah. With both the King and the Premier Duke gone at the same time, it's concerning. The Premier Duke is undoubtedly the Kingdom's strongest force. If it's known he's gone, neighboring countries might take advantage."
Both Rihya and Sera had already started thinking about what needed to be done next.
"The Empire is still in turmoil after Emperor Helmut VIII's death. The Union suffered significant losses due to the Volturino Grand Duchy, weakened by the minions of the Djinn. So, a direct confrontation would be difficult…?"
"Yeah. They'll probably come at us from an unexpected angle."
"And for unexpected angles, that would be a job for Marquis Heinlein. Regardless, his cooperation is necessary. It's regrettable to ask him to work even harder than before…"
"…The Prime Minister must be under a lot of pressure too."
Both Rihya and Sera were well aware of the state of affairs in the Kingdom.
Rihya immediately summoned the senior officers of the Kingdom army and began to reorganize the military.
Furthermore, she contacted Marquis Heinlein in the royal capital.
Though the royal army had lost its king, it was gradually recovering under Rihya's leadership.
Many recognized that Rihya wasn't just a figurehead queen.
Her past achievements were proving invaluable in times like these.
Outside the tent, Sera was discussing matters with Obaba-sama.
"Obaba-sama, I won't be returning to the western forest for a while. I'll stay in the royal capital."
"Hmm. That might be for the best."
Sera's reputation now resounded throughout the Central Countries.
Her presence in the royal capital would exert a silent pressure on other countries.
Something like, "Are you willing to antagonize Sera, the hero of the Western Forest defense who single-handedly defeated the Imperial Shadow Army?".
The defense of the Western Forest is well-known throughout the Central Countries thanks to the bards.
While it may be exaggerated, not all of it is untrue.
"I'd prefer if Obaba-sama stayed in the royal capital too."
"What? Me too?"
Obaba-sama tilted her head at Sera's suggestion.
"We should demonstrate to the entire Central Countries, not just the Kingdom, that the Western Forest is fully committed to cooperating with the Kingdom of Knightley."
"I see…"
Of course, the Western Forest has cooperated with the Kingdom in the past.
Even during the recent war against the Djinn, albeit belatedly, they sent reinforcements.
However, the general perception is that they are only connected to the Kingdom 'through the nobles of the Western region'.
For instance, although Marquis Hope, a great noble of the West knows this to be incorrect, the general perception may not always align with the truth…
Sera saw this as an excellent opportunity to correct this misconception.
Obaba-sama agreed.
"I've discussed this with Marquis Hope before. I believe the great nobles of the Kingdom will support us."
Apart from several ducal houses connected to the royal family, most of the great nobles remaining in the Kingdom were from the western and southern regions.
Particularly, Marquis Hope in the west, Rune Frontier Count in the south, and Marquis Heinlein, who holds lands in the south as well as being the Prime Minister.
These figures are all prominent nobles who have consistently supported King Abel I.
Even Alfonso, newly appointed as the Rune Frontier Count, is… well, in Sera's eyes, he's passable.
Two days later, the Kingdom army returned to the royal capital.
The Royal Alchemy Workshop in the Crystal Palace of the Kingdom of Knightley.
Kenneth, who returned ahead of the army, had been tinkering with a certain alchemy device.
It was about the size of a briefcase.
Designed for portability, hence the emphasis on compactness.
"I'm back, Chief."
Radden, who successfully returned the 'Long-Range Diffusion Mercy of the Goddess' to the royal capital along with the Kingdom army, reported.
"Welcome back, Radden. Now, we'll connect this 'relay device' to the central communication system in the workshop."
"Uh…. B-But, Chief, isn't that… you mentioned before that it was too dangerous…"
"Yeah, I did."
Radden was flustered, but Kenneth nodded gravely.
Even with the expertise of Viscount Kenneth Hayward, it seemed extremely difficult.
"However, to 'pick it up,' we need the performance of either the central communication system of the royal palace or the workshop."
"By pick it up, do you mean… His Majesty's 'Soul Resonance'?"
Radden asked, looking at the briefcase-sized 'relay device' Kenneth had been tinkering with.
Of course, Radden knew what it was.
"So, you're going to use the residual magic power of 'His Majesty's Soul Resonance', left in this relay device, to receive the 'Soul Resonance' that Ryo-san will send, right?"
"That's correct."
Kenneth affirmed Radden's understanding.
This 'relay device' was previously used when Ryo and Kenneth communicated through the 'Soul Resonance', relayed through King Abel's body.
By absorbing and analyzing King Abel's magic power, Kenneth was able to speak directly with Ryo… of course, during that time, King Abel had to remain in contact with this 'relay device' the entire time….
Now, if Ryo were to attempt communication, he would likely first consider using the 'Soul Resonance'.
However, achieving this would require significant alterations to the magic formula.
Kenneth was confident.
Since he could make these alterations himself.
Although it would be challenging.
Thus… he wondered if Ryo could also accomplish it.
Kenneth held Ryo in high regard, leading him to believe it was possible.
"I'll make sure everything is prepared here. Ryo-san, whenever you're ready."
Kenneth muttered, though there was no response from anyone.
After the return of the Kingdom army from the eastern region, the leadership convened daily meetings.
Amidst this.
"Sera, Obaba-sama, I have something to discuss with you."
Queen Rihya spoke up… proposing something astonishing.
"This…are you serious…?"
Even Sera, rarely taken aback, seemed unsettled.
Obaba-sama, reputed to have lived for over two millennia, widened her eyes in surprise.
"According to Viscount Rashata Debuo, there are records suggesting that King Richard, before ascending to the throne, held this position."
"That's almost a legend…"
Rihya said with a laugh, while Sera shook her head in disbelief.
"Well, sure. I've already decided to protect the Kingdom until the two of them return. Feel free to use this title as much as you like."
Rihya remarked with a smile.
A few days later, an announcement was made across the Central Countries from the Kingdom of Knightley.
Sera of the Western Forest had been appointed as the 'Grand Knight Commander of the Knightley Kingdom Knights and Chief Knight'.
It was a position that had remained vacant since King Richard's time.
Holding command over all the knight orders under the royal banner, and simultaneously serving as the highest-ranking knight within the Kingdom of Knightley.
The name of Grand Knight Commander and Chief Knight Sera spread like wildfire, becoming the subject of minstrels' songs throughout the Central Countries.
-x-X-x-
Extra 3
-x-X-x-
Ryo and Abel disappeared.
No one was able to move immediately.
This applied even to the knights comprising the Kingdom Army.
Especially those who were relatively close and witnessed the moment of disappearance…
Imogen, the Knight Captain leading the Valkyrie Knight Order, collapsed at that moment.
"Your Majesty… Your Majesty…"
She murmured repeatedly.
Her beloved King Abel had disappeared.
She was in a state of shock and disbelief.
However, a close friend immediately approached Imogen.
"Imogen, get up!"
Although softly spoken, her friend's words were sharp.
"Miu…"
It was Miu, the Magic Corps Commander of the Valkyrie Knight Order.
"I understand you're in shock, but Imogen, you're the Knight Captain. Your subordinates are always watching you. You are their hope. You must not falter. You have to keep going."
"But…"
"His Majesty will be fine, I'm sure. He must be alive somewhere. He'll return with Duke Rondo eventually. And when he does, you want him to say, 'Well done, Imogen!', you want him to praise you, don't you? So, stand up."
Miu encouraged her.
Those in leadership positions must maintain their composure even if it means putting up a facade… she knows that well.
Her grandfather was the former Lord of Twilight Land. And her father, the influential noble Marquis Westwing.
Having observed leaders from a young age, Miu understands the challenges involved better than most.
That's why she admired her close friend, who established, nurtured, and led one of the kingdom's representative knight orders.
She understood the difficulties more than anyone within the Knight Order.
That's precisely why!
Yes, precisely because of that, she must not crumble here.
She understands the sentiment.
Anyone would be dumbfounded if their beloved king vanished before their eyes.
But crumbling here would cause everything they had built up until now to collapse.
That wouldn't be what Imogen wants, nor would it be what the vanished king desires.
That's why she must stand up and keep going.
"Yeah…you're right. For His Majesty's sake, we must hold our ground."
Imogen said, her voice still weak, as she rose to her feet.
She wobbled instinctively.
From her right, Vice Commander Camilla and from her left, Scout Squad Leader Abigail supported her.
"You guys…"
Imogen muttered, and Camilla and Abigail nodded their heads.
Miu smiled warmly in front of them.
However…
"Imogen has recovered, but approximately one person is still lost."
Scout Squad Leader Abigail said, supporting Imogen.
At the end of her gaze…
"Ryo-san… my dear Ryo-san…"
Scarlett, who always wore a smile full of affection and was also a spiritual pillar for the Valkyrie executives, sat on the ground and murmured.
"Scarlett…"
"I've never seen Scarlett with that expression before…"
"Ryo-san… because she's a fan of Duke Rondo, isn't she…"
Imogen, Camilla, and Miu all witnessed this scene for the first time.
Supported by others, Imogen approached Scarlett, who was sitting on the ground.
"Scarlett…"
"What should I do, Imogen? Ryo-san…"
Tears overflowed from Scarlett's eyes.
"Duke Rondo… Ryo-dono will be fine, I believe. He's such a powerful magician. He'll definitely come back safely."
"…Really?"
"Yeah. He appeared out of nowhere just a moment ago. He always rushes to the kingdom's aid in times of crisis… that's what the Premier Duke does. So, he'll definitely come back safely."
"Yeah… that's true. If the Kingdom is in peril… if someone threatens the Kingdom, he'll rush back immediately, won't he?"
"No, let's refrain from such unsettling remarks, yeah?"
Scarlett said, as if she had realized something, and Imogen stopped her, recognizing the unsettling nature of her words.
… Afterward, Scarlett regained her usual smile filled with affection.
Surely, she wouldn't do anything to endanger the Kingdom… probably… supposedly.
The Royal Knights had lost some time to despair, but their recovery was swift.
It was thanks to the quick recovery of their commander, Dontan.
With King Abel gone, no one could move for a while.
They were all in the same boat.
However…
"Royal Knights, assemble!"
A voice echoed within the Royal Knights.
The members were brought back to reality by that voice.
It was the voice of their commander, Dontan.
"Assemble!"
Another command was issued.
This time, all the knights moved immediately into formation.
"We can no longer follow His Majesty's orders."
Dontan's words were steady.
Deep down, sadness and regret for what couldn't be prevented mixed within him, but he didn't show it.
Because he was a commander.
Commanders must not waver.
He had learned this from his beloved King Abel and respected former Royal Knight Captain Marquis Heinlein.
So, he couldn't show any hesitation.
"From now on, the Royal Knights will prioritize Rihya-sama's instructions. Remember that."
When it comes to mobilizing people within an organization, ensuring everyone recognizes the chain of command is crucial.
Not understanding who to follow can lead to the biggest wavering, leaving individuals unable to act…
At that moment, Dontan ensured that the members recognized the chain of command.
From there, they just had to follow orders.
The knights felt a sense of calm settle over them.
Of course, they still worried about the Kingdom's future, but at least they wouldn't hesitate on what actions to take.
Just following Queen Rihya's instructions.
That alone was enough to bring stability to their hearts.
In that regard, it could be said to be an advantage for those belonging to an organization.
Afterward, following Queen Rihya's instructions, the Royal Knights returned to the royal capital without any issues.
With the unconscious Erwin Ortiz in tow.
It wasn't just the knights who remained.
There were reinforcements, too.
And they weren't part of any organization.
"Abel-san and Ryo-san…"
Hero Roman muttered.
But the daze didn't last long.
He realized that someone was holding his hand.
"Nadia…"
Roman's wife and the Demon Lord Nadia.
She held Roman's right hand with both of hers.
Then, with a gentle smile on her face, she said.
"Those two are fine. They're alive, although quite far away."
"Eh…?"
Roman was surprised by Nadia's assertion.
"How… do you know?"
Roman asked, looking puzzled.
"I don't know why, but I just do."
Nadia replied with a smile.
"Yeah…. You're right, those two wouldn't die."
Roman tried to understand, despite the ambiguity in Nadia's words.
Of course, both Ryo and Abel could die depending on the circumstances…
Roman nodded several times, then suddenly his gaze fixated on a particular scene.
Nadia soon noticed the same scene and became fixated on it as well.
It was the sight of the Djinn Merlin speaking to what looked like a coffin-like box.
Accompanied by a heavy sigh.
"Merlin-san?"
"Ah, Roman, Nadia. It seems I've found myself in a bit of a pickle."
Merlin replied, shaking his head repeatedly in response to Roman's inquiry.
"Um..what's in that…coffin?"
Nadia asked.
Both Roman and Nadia knew that the coffin-like box had appeared alongside Ryo and Merlin as they emerged from the sky, but they didn't know what was inside.
"Hmm… a fallen being is inside."
"Fallen?"
"I'm not familiar with that word."
Despite Merlin's response, neither Roman nor Nadia understood the term 'Fallen'.
"Well… it's not a being from this world. Ryo convinced him to share his magic power and forcefully teleport us from the mana-deficient western dungeon…"
"I see."
Roman nodded, somewhat understanding Merlin's explanation.
"I thought of asking for his magic power again to return to the Western Countries, but… he refused to cooperate."
"Eh…"
"He's sealed by Ryo, so he's open to Ryo's wishes but refuses to listen to anyone else's…. Makes sense. Can't argue with that logic."
Merlin explained with a wry smile as Roman stood speechless.
"Well, the alchemy and magic formulas used on this coffin… I can't understand most of it. Obviously, he won't comply with someone like that."
"You don't understand it, Merlin-san?"
"At all. Ryo didn't write everything, it seems… Well, that's why I won't be able to return to the Western Countries for a while."
The Royal Army began its return from the battlefield to the royal capital.
Leading the way were the Royal Knights and Valkyrie Knights.
At the rear were the Hero Roman, Demon Lord Nadia, and the Djinn Merlin.
Following behind Merlin was the coffin…
"Merlin-san. How… can that coffin move on its own?"
Roman asked. A question that seemed reasonable.
"Well…. it seems Ryo created something like a 'hole' to receive magic power and connect it to the western dungeon…but it seems like a little bit of magic power is leaking from there. That's why it can move…"
"Can the… being inside come out…?"
"I don't know…"
The two discussed while looking at the coffin, floating slightly above the ground and moving autonomously, following them.
And someone interjected into their conversation.
"I asked earlier, and it seems they have no intention of coming out."
"Eh?"
"What?"
It was the Demon Lord Nadia who spoke. Both Roman and Merlin were surprised and asked in return.
"It seems willing to answer Nadia's questions…"
"It seems it acknowledges me as a Demon Lord to some extent."
Merlin said with a sigh, and Nadia smiled in response.
"Well, whatever. I'll try and get permission to stay in the Kingdom for a while."
The day after arriving in the royal capital, under Queen Rihya's permission, the Djinn Merlin and the 'coffin' were granted permission to stay in the Kingdom.
Merlin, enjoying his time with his two grandchildren.
And the coffin following behind.
Such scenes became a common sight in the royal capital…