CH 55

『Vine…I, a former archangel, am responsible for my fall from heaven, and you, a fallen angel, are responsible for yours.』

『But!』Lucifer continued.

『This time, the evil you’ve done … in devouring the soul of an innocent girl … must be dealt with squarely.』

Clear and decisive…

Lucifer fired…

Vine shiverred upon hearing the inchoate voice with absolutely no room for rebuttal… 

『Y-Your Excellency! Though it may be impossible…I will fight you with all my might!』

The moment Vine said that!

The scenery around suddenly changed.

It was a completely different, empty, white space…

Vine and Lou, clad in a huge magical wave aura, were levitating alone together.

He wanted to make sure that their transcendent magic in this battle between them wouldn’t affect this world.

Lucifer transferred them to the Spirit World he had created.

Vine’s sharp eyes glared at Lou.

A roar leaked from the lion’s mouth, and a Kotodama was chanted heroically.

『Come forth and strike my enemy, Storm! Clothe me in solid shield, O raging water!』

A tornado more than two sizes larger than the one Vine had just summoned rolled in and hit Lou.

The hard water shield that Vine summoned covered his entire body to protect him.

This time!

Even if he was no match for Lucifer, he wanted to strike him once somehow!

Maybe the person in front of him was…

Like Louis Saleon, he was probably a temporary vessel…

Exactly!　

He’d do whatever it took to cut through the body of a vulnerable human like Lou!

That blow was fierce and spirited filled with such thoughts.

Unfortunately!

This time, Vine’s wish dissipated in vain.

The tornado had indeed swallowed Lou’s body.

He was completely unfazed.

On the contrary…

Without taking any defensive posture, Lou folded his arms and glared at Vine.

Damn it!

I’ve made certain it’s a magic wave that a Wind Spirit like Sylph can’t nullify!

If wind doesn’t work, then water will!

Vine donned the water as a defense, raising the pressure to such an extreme that it would repel any powerful weapon…

He tried to hit Lou again.

『Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, kiddo! Let my magic power extinguish you!』

Just then!

Large shadows appeared on Lou’s back.

The shadows soon glowed and morphed into giant wings of pure white.

They enveloped Lou’s entire body.

The huge wings weren’t only beautiful.

They also easily deflected the countless high-pressure water blades that Vine had fired.

『AHHHHHH, those ones!!! I-I-I’m pretty sure those are his wings! T-They’re still as beautiful! Ha! How divine!!!』

The beautiful image of Lucifer, the angel, popped in Vine’s mind.

You fell from the high heavens with us that day…

You were called the Bright Star of Dawn, but your beautiful body was thrown down to the bottom of the earth by the Creator.

However!

I know it.

You’re not an ‘arrogant’ being.

To guide the ignorant children of men and make them try to live strong and noble…

You merely made a request to the Creator…

Consequently, God distorted your soul as evil and made you an object of fear.

Nonetheless, you were not defeated by your notoriety that has been established around the world.

You taught the Son of Man, who had always been adrift, to live by his own judgment and seize his destiny.

And in return…

The Son of Man learned of the torment called Original Sin.

But only when you’ve gone through the pain!

Can you gain several folds of joy and happiness…

The Son of Man was able to know.

BOOM!

The twelve wings that protected Luu shone brightly.

『Is that it? Vine…it’s Lou’s turn this time.』

Lucifer’s voice, which was as monotone as ever, sent a chill down Vine’s spine.

Even devils had fears.

Vine hurriedly chanted the same Kotodama as before.

He activated the magic, and once again was covered by a wall of high-pressure water.

Out of nowhere…

He heard a Kotodama…

Here it comes!

It was Lou’s voice.

『O Great Ice Princess! Thou can only smile coldly with eternal, frozen grief! I shall turn that smile into a blade that can cut through anything and shoot the enemy!』

He chanted the Kotodama within the closed, dazzling wings.

Eventually, the wings opened and Lou’s figure appeared.

『Freeze!』

Simultaneously with the decisive Kotodama, the magic was activated.

Lou’s tremendous magical wave aura surged forward.

It was a tremendously chilly air.

The air in the Spirit World froze with the spell.

The water that was supposed to protect Vine quickly froze, crushing him in the process…

S-Sure enough!

I-I’m no match for him.

Vine thought amidst his fading consciousness, before he fainted.

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『Uugh…』

When Vine regained consciousness, Lou was standing in front of him.

Vine looked at Lou and shook her head.

It seemed that he wasn’t thrown into time eternal.

『I…you didn’t rush my soul?』

『Vine! You did not touch the hostages. So I’ll keep my promise.』

Along with Lou’s voice, Lucifer’s monotone voice echoed.

『That’s right, Vine. I objected, though… You can thank Lou for that.』

『…………』

Lou’s voice came down again on the speechless Vine.

『I made a soul contract with a devil. Lucifer was the first. But you, Vine, will be the next to be contracted.』

Vine then made a pact with Lou.

And that would mean becoming Lucifer’s subordinate at the same time.

Yes, just like a long, long time ago.

The main body of the devil Vine had the appearance of a grim lion that rarely expressed emotions.

But the tears that glistened in his eyes showed his joy and exhilaration.

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『Adelaide-san!』

Somewhere in the distance, Adelaide heard a voice calling her.

『All right! Keep your head up. I’m here to help you. From now on, do exactly as I say. You were abducted by a devil who read your True Name. There’s only one way to save yourself.』

The voice sounded familiar to Adelaide.

She immediately called out to the owner of the voice.

『Lou, are you Lou?!』　

『Yes, I am! The same thing happened to Fran, but she survived. I’ll use the same magic on you.』

『Hahaha, she’ll listen to anything you say. But that’s not right. A knight is supposed to protect the Princess!』

She must have felt relieved the moment she heard Lou’s voice…

Adelaide’s usual light-heartedness had returned.

『I’m sorry!』

『Hehehe, it’s okay, I get it! I’ll do whatever you say.』

Adelaide focused her attention and waited for Lou’s next instructions.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

When Adelaide woke up…

Lou had just put his hand on Giselle’s chest and was in the process of sending a magic wave aura.

But after a while, he took his hand away and let out a deep sigh.

“Lou!”

Adelaide called out. Lou turned to her and gave her a weak smile.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, I’m having trouble.”

Lou said…

Giselle didn’t trust what he said at all, so he could cast the spell.

“That sounds bad. Is there anything I can do?”

Adelaide asked, but Lou shook his head.

“Adelaide-san, you’ve just returned from the brink of death, and you’re unwell. I don’t want to overwhelm you.”

When Adelaide heard Lou’s words, she smiled happily.

“I’m fine! I’d risk my life to save my precious students.”

Lou discerned Adelaide’s resolve, and a thought occurred to him.

“All right!…Well then, Adelaide-san, I want you to hold hands with me. I’m going to call out to Giselle with my magi wave aura.”

Lou held his hand out to Adelaide awkwardly. 

It was the first time Adelaide had seen Lou looking so unsure of himself.

“Lou, relax a bit. This isn’t like you. Or are you just a little nervous because you touched this old lady’s breasts?”

“N-No! Not at all!”　

“It’s fine! You saved Fran’s life again, didn’t you? I consider Giselle as my beloved daughter, too. Let’s work together to save her.”

Adelaide stared at Lou’s face and stated resolutely.