Chapter 562 Guardian
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Kazumi…Kazumi! Hey! Snap out of it!”
Entering the side tunnel, eventually it connected to a cave without water, so I laid Kazumi down there.
Her breathing is there, but she’s unconscious.
”Don’t fret, Lord. Kazumi has merely fainted. It must have been before he went into the water, he didn’t even drink any water.”
Lilith, who had materialized, gently lifted Kazumi’s head and held him on her lap.
”But…Lord. This is…rather an uncanny coincidence…”
Saying so, she glared at the back of the cave.
”What? Is there something there?”
”Deep within…my heart is drawn to it. And──”
Lilith pointed to my waist──Yamikirimaru.
”What…is it? It’s trembling…”
My Yamikirimaru at my waist trembled slightly…and after a while, it went quiet.
”Could it be…Lilith, is that so?”
At my question, Lilith nodded silently.
”There’s no mistake…ahead, Frejya──God-Slayer is…”
”Lilith…I’ll leave Kazumi to you.”
Saying that much, I stood up and turned toward the back of the cave.
”Be careful…intense killing intent and hostility are emanating.”
”Yeah, I’ve been feeling it since just now.”
Lilith must have felt it too, the overwhelming killing intent emanating from the back of the cave.
”It’s not from God-Slayer. There’s a powerful guardian here…”
”…Exactly what I wanted. I’ll make them my meal…”
Leaving Kazumi in Lilith’s care, I ventured deeper into the damp cave.
* * *
”Stop there…”
A voice echoed from what appeared to be the dead end of the cave.
It didn’t sound particularly loud, but in the spacious, hall-like cavern, the acoustics made it carry, sounding much larger than it was.
”A human…?” the voice murmured. “You’re the second one to make it this deep.”
”Who the hell are you?”
Stop.
I took a few steps after being told to halt, squinting into the dim space ahead.
A faint human silhouette was barely visible.
”The first was the 11th Kuniyasu… but the second seems to have a foul mouth.”
──SNAP!
With the sound of a snapped finger, the entire cave wall began to glow faintly, and the source of the voice appeared in the light.
Clad in full armor, the figure was clearly a knight.
”Kuniyasu… that was when he came to offer the God-Slayer, wasn’t it?”
I took another step forward.
Immediately, the killing intent from the opponent intensified.
”The God-Slayer—this katana, now part of Lady Frejya herself. You’ve come to steal it back, have you?”
”Steal, you say? I came here ’cause I wanna ask the goddess Frejya about Azradelius, the Supreme God, and all sorts of other stuff.”
”Lady Frejya is still asleep. Your wish cannot be granted. Leave.”
The metallic sound of a Western sword being drawn echoed, and the armored man drew his sword.
His face, finally visible, was younger than his voice suggested, and his blue eyes emitted a sharp glare.
Even though there was no wind, his long golden hair was swaying──probably because he was releasing concentrated magical power into his body.
”I, however, can awaken Frejya who’s inside that God-Slayer.”
”Hmph, nonsense…”
A hint of anger could be seen on the man’s face as he pointed the tip of his sword at me.
”Well, fine… I’ll take the God-Slayer by force.”
I reached for Yamikirimaru at my waist.
And then, the man’s face, who had been watching my movements, changed from anger to surprise.
”Kuniyasu said there was an Ōwakizashi that paired with the God-Slayer… Could it be…?”
”Huh? Ah… This here is, as you might guess, Yamikirimaru. It’s got enough power to even materialize some of the power of Lilith who was inside…”
Having said that, I gestured with my chin towards the entrance of the cave.
”She’s over there, taking care of my fiancée who almost drowned.”
”Ho… Lady Lilith…”
The anger seemed to have vanished, but the man didn’t break his stance.
”Then, let me test if you are worthy to wield the God-Slayer… I am Darius Grant, the leader of the Four Holy Guardians tasked with protecting Lady Frejya. And you… what is your name?”
”Hiroya O’Brien.”
As soon as I introduced myself, I charged toward the armored knight.
The Four Holy Guardians──probably the counterpart to the Four Dark Heavens, who were likely the Demon King’s minions.
The murderous intent emanating from Darius Grant, proclaiming himself their leader, was undoubtedly that of a formidable warrior.
Understanding that even a slight opening could decide the outcome, I resolved to take the offensive.
In an instant, I dove into close range, slashing horizontally at his torso with a swift draw of my katana.
At this speed, it didn’t matter if he wore metal armor or leather; I could slice through either.
I would cleave through both.
”Hmph!”
With a fierce breath, his sword clashed against the blade of Yamikirimaru.
”──!”
(He deflected my swift katana!?)
I quickly drew Yamikirimaru back to my side.
Without hesitation, I thrust it toward his head.
──With a flurry of strikes trained by Asuka.
──BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM-BAM!
Despite the astonishing speed of Darius’s swordplay, my attacks were all deflected, and I retreated after landing a kick to his chest.
”That’s quite the speed. You, despite being human, have stepped into the realm of the inhuman.”
(Is he referring to the S-rank realm… Of course, he must be…)
”And that speed of your blade… You are from Himuka, aren’t you?”
”Himuka, huh? I’ve heard it disappeared hundreds of years ago. Well, this swordsmanship does have a distinctly eastern flair to it.”
”Indeed. It seems that the political situation has changed significantly since I took on the duty of guarding Lady Frejya in my labyrinth.”
Darius murmured that, then stepped forward, sword raised high.
”Next… I shall go first…!”
(So fast!?)
In the very next moment after he stepped forward, Darius was right in front of me.
I immediately caught the descending sword with my katana.
──CLANG!
I couldn’t deflect it, but I managed to block the forceful strike with Yamikirimaru.
”Hmph… I had intended to bisect you from head to toe just now. ────Did you manage to block that with your invisible katana?”
(I was aiming to shoot and deflect, you know.)
A chill runs down my spine at the weight of that heavy blow.
(This guy… his speed, his weight… incredible…)
──SCRITCH… SCritch…
The blades still locked, the pushing match continues.
There’s no doubt about it, I’m at a positional disadvantage.
Darius, weighing down on me from above, gradually presses in with his full body weight.
(Sure enough, if this keeps up, I’ll be bisected from the head just like he said.)
I deliver a sweep to Darius’s right leg as he steps in.
”Ugh?!”
──THUD!
Taken by surprise, Darius topples sideways.
I could strike him down now, but I decide to keep my distance.
”Hmph… You have good instincts.”
”I saw through your trap.”
Darius, who never took his eyes off me even as he fell.
He was waiting for me to leap in, ready for it.
(I need to find a way to stop his versatile sword…)
I recall my encounter with Master Müller.
His swordplay was both offensive and defensive, precise and unparalleled.
This guy’s technique is exactly like that ‘knightly’ style.
(If I can just delay his sword for a moment…)
I draw Yamikirimaru from its sheath at my waist, holding it horizontally in front of me.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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