CH 41

“What a pain! I was in a good mood and you ruined it!”

With a howl of abhorrence, Raidorl thrust out the tip of his Dáinsleif.

The black blade from the tip of the sword snaps like a whip as it strikes Célia  as she runs down the hill.

“Sword Fighting Method [Scorpion collision]”  

“Imperial Style Holy Sword Technique [Instant Lightning Fulgur]”

“What the…?”

Just before the black blade reaches her body, Célia’s body disappears with a flash of light.

The next moment, a princess knight wielding a pale blue sword appears right in front of Raidorl.

“Enemies of the Empire, enemies of all!”

“Geh..?!”

A lightning bolt strikes Raidorl.

Raidorl was able to quickly kick the ground and fly backwards to dodge the killing blow. However, the unavoidable thunderbolt struck him in the shoulder, causing great pain. 

“Instantaneous movement is a nasty thing to do!　That’s what your holy sword can do!” 

“Don’t mock, Claíomh Solas! I don’t want to be told by you who uses such a terrifying power!”

Raidorl and Célia stare at each other at a slight distance.

They are the chosen keepers of the Holy Sword. But they are so different when they meet each other.

A prince and a princess.

A black sword and a white sword.

The man with the dark miasma and the woman with the pale lightning.

Two living legends brought back to life in the modern age, they were so opposed to each other that they seemed to be as incompatible as water and oil.

“How dare you, the hero chosen by the Holy Sword, do such a thing! How many people have died because of you?” 

Célia cries out as she thrusts the tip of her sword at Raidorl.

Célia’s appearance, who utters lightning on her back, is like a valkyrie who condemns evil and is as divine as a mythical story.

“Hey, hey, hey,! What are you talking about?”

Raidorl, who is in the position of a demon and has been condemned, narrowed his eyes slightly and twisted his lips.

“It’s the Empire that invaded the Zain Kingdom in the first place. You’re the ones who started the war, and when you  didn’t expect to get beaten, you’re pretending to be victims of this war.” 

“The Empire is fighting to unite the continents and create a peaceful world!　If the empire unites the continent, everyone will be happy, why can’t you understand that?”

“Peace …… happiness ……?　Ha, it’s like you’ve got a bug in your head!”

Raidorl bared his fangs and howled.

The words spoken by the maiden of thunder standing before her are so pale and refreshingly selfish. 

This innocent girl has no doubt that she, the empire, is righteous.

She has no idea that others might be unhappy because of the invasion she has waged in the name of peace.

“So, this is the extent of the Holy Sword of the Empire.” 

Raidorl shakes his head. 

“You’re just a little kid who doesn’t know the harshness of this world!” 

“You’re not that much older than me! Don’t treat me like a child!”

“I’m talking about mental age. Your mental age is as if you’re a kid who’s been caught up in the dreams of a hothouse!”

(TL: Hothouse=greenhouse in which plants that need protection from cold weather are grown) 

“Stop…mocking me!” 

Célia turns as red as an apple and slashes at Raidorl. 

Raidorl also made a quick slash and the two swords collided head-on.

“Khuh” 

“Geh!”

Wind and lightning. A small explosion between the conflicting attributes of the holy swords blows the two bodies apart.

Raidorl takes a stance in the air and lands on both legs, while Célia rolls on the ground to catch herself.

“Scorpion strike!”

Raidorl sent a slash towards Célia, who rolled on the ground.

“Raiden Tonitūrus”

(TL:Tonitūrus=Latin word, check it out)  

As soon as she rose from the ground, she fired a bolt of lightning at the oncoming jet-black slash.

The pale lightning broke through Raidorl’s cursed slash and struck him in the opposite direction.

“Tsk” 

Raidorl clicks his tongue and flies to the side. But in the space where he flew, Célia appeared.

“Blinding lightning.!!” 

“Ugh. ……! Don’t fuck with me!”

Raidorl flicks the swung down Claíomh Solas with an iron hand.

And then, in return, he tries to hit her with Dáinsleif. But his attacks were dodged with a light step. It only ends up gouging the ground beneath Célia’s feet.

“Can’t let her escape! [Medusa, Goddess of the Stone Eye!]” 

“he…Kyaaaa!”

With the tip of his sword still striking the ground, Raidorl launched a ranged attack. A black dome appeared in a radius of 10 metres around Raidorl.

It is a cursed spell that petrifies the enemy, and those who are captured by it are instantly transformed into stone statues.

“Uhiyaaa…What the hell was that? It’s disgusting.” 

When the dome disappeared, Célia emerged from it without a care in the world.

She looks bewildered by the black miasma that has been tangling around her body, but does not seem to be noticeably affected by the curse.

“Tsk……a pain in the ass. Blessing from the Holy Sword?” 

Raidorl’s face twisted into a grimace as he realised his disadvantage.

Raidorl and Célia. Both didn’t know which of them is the better holy sword holder.

However, it seems that the power of the curse of the Dáinsleif is less effective against Célia, who has received the blessing of the Holy Sword.

In terms of compatibility, Célia seemed to have the overwhelming advantage, as she had a weapon with more destructive power than lightning.

“Hurm..? By any chance, you’re running out of ideas?”

Célia smiled at the bitter look on Raidorl’s face.

She, too, had noticed her advantage. She also realized her superiority, and her innocent face had an air of triumph about it.

“If you surrender, I’ll spare your life, you’re quite strong, and if you submit to the empire, maybe Daddy will hire you? Daddy loves strong people.” 

“Ha, thank you for your annoying concern!”

Raidorl spat at Célia with spit, as if he had already won the game.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve decided that I’m never going to stand in someone’s way again. It is repugnant to leave my fate in the hands of an emperor I’ve never met!”

“Hmm, I see. Okay then………… drop dead?”

“…!!”

Once again, Célia makes an instantaneous move and steps into Raidorl’s gap.

With a twisted expression on his face, Raidorl intercepted her with his Dáinsleif.