Manowa

(Focus, me)

Yumika, who was using her Complete Wolf Transformation, intently stared at Ijika while holding her spear at the ready.

Jinrai was nearby. She didn't need to worry about what came afterwards anymore.

Even if she used up all her power here, there would be no problem.

So thinking, Yumika's shoulders immediately felt lighter. She naturally reached the peak of mental concentration,『Zone』. And all her senses were turned to Ijika alone.

Although Ijika's entire body had become a blade, Yumika's change made a shudder run through him. Ijika understood that the wolf before his eyes had finally bared her fangs.

「You were holding back? How reserved, young lady.」

Yumika's wolf face grinned at those words, exposing her canines.

『I can't use this next technique when I'm alone.』

Yumika said. This wasn't a duel. She wasn't able to fight with the assumption that Ijika would be her only opponent. But that restraint was now released.

Then Yumika took a step forward and started spinning her spear in a circle.

(What?)

Ijika watched quizzically. The silver aura the spear was clad in was increasing in concentration. Some kind of grand technique was coming. That was obvious.

Should he move forward to attack and destroy it? Avoid? Defend?

(Destroy?)

An instant judgement. Ijika's blade body ran toward Yumika.

In response, Yumika fired the Barnes style spear technique『Beheading Bullet』. It was a technique for distant opponents that solidified Fighting Spirit into a disk shape and fired it. Then the fired silver disk rushed toward Ijika.

「Foolish.」

However, for the current Ijika, its trajectory was easy to predict. Ijika dodged just before it hit him and stepped toward Yumika.

Then Ijika raised the blade extending from his arm overhead. It was after a powerful technique. That should have left an opening, and he plunged forward. But Yumika's movements didn't stop. With a completely natural movement, her spear moved to block Ijika's katana and『reflected』its power.

(This is!?)

Ijika knew what that was. Barnes style spear technique『Reflect Mirror』. Ijika had once been on the receiving end of that technique. It was a secret technique of the Barnes style that detonated Fighting Spirit at the point of contact to reflect an opponent's attack.

(But, why?)

It should have been immediately after the Fighting Spirit disk was launched. Ijika thought that in that case, she shouldn't have been able to use『Reflect Mirror』immediately... but since it had actually happened, he had no choice but to accept it. And there was still even more to come.

Yumika didn't stop. The attack she subsequently unleashed was the Barnes style secret technique『Seven Flashes』.

The fastest thrust『Flash』would be unleashed seven times in a row, making the fastest series of thrusts. Yumika poured all of her silver aura into the established seven thrusts and attacked Ijika, whose stance had been thrown off balance.

And Ijika

「UooOO!?」

Was struck. He was hit by the first one. But his body was made of metal. There was no pain. He immediately fixed his posture. But she was fast. The second strike also hit him and shattered part of his body, but it wasn't a fatal wound. He blocked the third strike and avoided the fourth strike, but the fifth strike was a direct hit and sent his left arm flying. He avoided the sixth strike, slashed with his katana to repel the seventh strike... and her spear stopped.

(That was everything... right?)

Ijika laughed when he saw the exhausted Yumika. She had used three secret techniques that consumed a large amount of Fighting Spirit in a row. He didn't understand how she was able to do that, but there was no way it wouldn't use up all her strength.

In other words, Ijika won against Yumika. He had defended against all her techniques; he had splendidly earned victory. He raised his katana to take her head as the prize...

And Ijika's head flew.

『Hah, haa.』

Yumika collapsed on the spot. Even with her Complete Wolf Transformation, the『Three Sacred Treasures』technique she had just used was extremely exhausting. A feeling of exhaustion like a faucet inside her had broken and forcefully ejected water attacked Yumika, putting a tremendous burden on her body.

The Barnes style secret techniques『Seven Flashes』, which put everything into seven thrusts;『Reflect Mirror』, which repelled all attacks an opponent might make; and『Beheading Bullet』, which threw sharpened Fighting Spirit. Those three secret techniques were thought to be the pinnacle of the Barnes style, but in reality, that was wrong. Originally, those were combined as a single technique.

The only one that had been able to use it among the current Barnes style spear users was Jiraid. And even for Jiraid, the exhaustion was so severe that it carried the risk of shortening his lifespan. Also, while he had shown it in performances, he had never used it in combat.

「Kukuku, you're skilled, aren't you, young lady.」

Then Ijika's voice reached Yumika, who had collapsed. Yumika looked at him with astonished eyes. Ahead of her gaze was Ijika's head, which was returning to human form as his Blade Body Transformation came undone.

『You're, still... alive?』

「Oh, don't worry. I'll die soon.」

After his words, Yumika's face warped. It was the first time she had killed a person. But strangely, Yumika had almost no feelings of guilt or conflict. The experience of taking so many lives up until now had made Yumika's heart resistant. And if anything, that fact shocked Yumika.

「So then, what was that technique just now?」

Yumika obediently answered Ijika's question.

『Barnes style secret technique『Three Sacred Treasures』』

Honestly speaking, Yumika didn't release its complete form. Making him avoid the『Beheading Bullet』from the front to force him to concentrate on Yumika so she could hit him from behind with a returning『Beheading Bullet』... that was simply a precautionary measure. Originally, she was supposed to hit at the beginning and continually attack with it. Even Yumika hadn't reached that level yet.

「A trinity, huh? Three powerful techniques are fired in rapid succession, so that exhaustion?」

Ijika looked at Yumika. He could tell at a glance that the exhaustion was severe. Then he sighed.

「Well, if you defeated me and became unable to move, you would be eaten by the Ghouls, and that would be the end... I failed. If I wanted to make the young lady take me seriously, should I have promised some candy for winning?」

Ijika said and laughed.

After that, he said「Well, it ended properly, so I guess it's fine?」... then Ijika stopped moving. The Sword Body Transformation had completely disappeared, and a mere human head was there.

Seeing that, Yumika groaned for a moment. When she saw Ijika return to human form, the emotions she thought were gone showed up. But Yumika didn't have the time to sob about it.

She heard Emily's scream. Lyle's dead... and after that, her weeping cries.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

Good grief, I'm filled with envy... Jinrai muttered in his mind as he sensed the Fighting Spirit emanating from Yumika's side.

With Jinrai's Fighting Spirit output, the『Three Sacred Treasures』was folly; he couldn't handle the Barnes style secret techniques. Fighting Spirit was magical power that was altered to an energy that was easier to combine with physical abilities. And Jinrai was a talentless person with a limited Fighting Spirit output.

That was why he used two spears; he used techniques with small output more times to compensate for his lack of power. The two-spear style was the result of a talentless person's struggle.

(Though, I have no regrets)

A body weaker than the average person's, a small amount of Magic Power, a lack of Fighting Spirit output; it was because he had those weaknesses as his impetus that Jinrai was able to come this far. Beating geniuses, making them yield, and satisfying his pride. Jinrai was self-aware that he was that sort of petty person. Jinrai thought he surely would have stopped improving at some point if he was a person of many talents.

『Master. Lyle, your grandson!?』

However, for that sake, Jinrai had cut off various things from himself. And the most extreme of those was family.

「I know. He's passing away.」

Therefore, even with his dying grandchild at his back, he didn't balk at fighting. He understood that he was the worst person.

『Is that fine? It's the end!?』

After Jin Bahar's words, Jinrai didn't even turn his head. Two shadows approached.

『Whether good or bad!』

『You guys will die too!』

「It's my grandchild's last moments. Be quiet.」

Then Jinrai pierced both leaping dolls with a blow.

『What...?』

Jin Bahar was astonished. The same was true for the slender man in front of them. Until a moment ago, he had been struggling against those opponents. Jinrai easily pierced the opponents he had said he couldn't damage even if he hit with a thrust.

「I've seen through your patterns. Break into pieces, rubbish.」

Without looking at the reactions of the dolls, Jinrai used the destructive vibration technique『Shake』on the pierced dolls,

『Gya』『Pugyaa』

And pulverized them in an instant. Their limbs were blown away, leaving nothing but fragments scattering around.

「Jin.」

Then Jinrai muttered.

「I haven't been able to do anything for Lyle up until now. I left home and trained alone. Ever since they were born, I've hardly ever met my grandchildren. I'm that kind of hopeless old man.」

Jinrai's line of sight didn't turn toward Lyle.

「I took my grandchild to extremely dangerous places, and got him killed. Those are the only things I've done.」

His gaze was simply turned toward the slender man with red eyes in front of him. Jin Bahar simply listened to Jinrai's words.

「But at the end. I at least want to let my grandson pass away quietly and with peace of mind. I should be able to do that much. So... please.」

Jinrai told him. As before, his back didn't move. However, saying『Understood』, Jin Bahar turned his back to Jinrai and started running. There were two other monsters ahead of him.

「Is that fine?」

The slender man watching the situation asked. There was likely more than one meaning to his words. And his expression didn't have the calm that had been there up until now.

「While lacking in strength, my grandson is also a warrior. He was prepared for this.」

Jinrai replied. Those words probably weren't a lie. However, his expression didn't reflect his own words.

「But...」

While grinding his teeth, Jinrai glared at the man.

「I can't calm my anger. I can't forgive you.」

Like he was vomiting it out, Jinrai shouted.

「So I'll appease this resentment with your life, hit man!」

Then Jinrai broke into a run with a ghastly appearance. Like a wild beast, using all its power to hunt and kill its prey.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

And there was a person watching the situation. A person was watching with a bird's-eye view. There was only one person who could do so.

「... That's not true, Grandfather.」

The person who was listening to Jinrai's words muttered that. It was Lyle. And Lyle was currently alone, ascending to heaven.

Lyle disagreed with Jinrai's assertion that he hadn't done anything for him. Lyle had never forgotten that he received his dragonbone spear from Jinrai when he started his journey as an adventurer. That was the gift he was happiest to receive since he was born. He had felt like he was recognized by his grandfather.

And in the last several months, Lyle had become much stronger. Lyle was self-aware that he was certainly no match for Jinrai, Kazane, and the others. But Lyle had certainly become stronger. Lyle also understood that that was the result of Jinrai's guidance.

(But I wasted it)

Lyle mocked himself.

There was a battlefield directly below Lyle. Yumika had defeated her enemy. Jinrai had destroyed the small dolls. It seemed the white bear and Marie had become almost immobile just now due to Louise's Judgement Bolt.

「You're amazing, everyone.」

Lyle thought he wouldn't be able to do that. He had simply resolved himself to attempt a simultaneous strike and died. What an uncool ending... he thought with a laugh.

「Well, but. I fought to the end without running away.」

He was afraid, and in pain, but he still stood up and didn't give up until the end.

「Therefore. At least praise me for that, Father.」

Lyle thought that at least he could throw out his chest and say that to the magnificent father and grandfather he couldn't catch up to. However, he wasn't satisfied. He had regrets. Even though he knew he couldn't do anything about them, his regretful feelings didn't disappear.

Her overflowing tears didn't stop, and his view of the situation on the ground blurred.

「There's truly nothing I can do about it. But I don't want to die. Ah, I really can't do anything about this.」

Contrary to Lyle's will, his soul separated from his body and rose towards the sky. Lyle perceived that no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't return.

「... This is death?」

Lyle distinctly felt that his own soul would soon go into the magical power river that flowed through the sky. There was nothing he could do about it. His human life would end like this, leading to a new life.

It was all over. Lyle's life wasn't about to end; it already had.

However, Lyle continued weeping. While looking down at the world that he could no longer return to, Lyle recalled his life until now.

His father...

His mother…

His sister...

His grandfather...

His grandmother...

His best friend…

His companions…

While remembering all the people he had met until now, and thinking of those he would never meet again, Lyle turned into particles of light... and...

『... Now then, shall we counterattack? My master.』

He encountered a black dragon.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King, Liberator, Guardian

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor (True), Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, White Magic Accumulator (Revised) ×2, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring, Angel Bracelet

Level : 40

Health: 156+20

Magic Power: 378+520

Strength: 81+45

Agility: 83+39

Endurance: 45+20

Wisdom : 75

Dexterity : 53

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』『Rabbit Speed』『Flare Mirage』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Kick Decapitation Wave』『Warrior's Memory: Lv2』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv4』『Aegis Shield』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition: Lv2』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『High Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv3「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Devil King's Intimidation』『Stone Minotaur: Lv2』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-Silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur: Lv3』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』『Boost』『Monkey's Strong Arm』『Two-sword Style』『Boobies Plus』『Living Armor』『Alarm』『Six-sword Style』『Mental Attack Complete Protection』『Spider Web』『Wire Cutter』『Flexible』『Magic Power Absorption』『Red Body Transformation』『Friendship Tag-team』

Kazane: 「…………」

Naoki: 「…………」