Volume 9 Chapter 68 Day Four (Shield)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Cartera’s here, isn’t she!? Damn it, damn it, damn it all…! Next time I see you, Sanada, I’ll carve your flesh off a centimeter at a time and kill you slowly, you worthless bitch!!”
Livia burst into view, her true face twisted, naked body gleaming, venom spilling with every word. Sanada—that had to mean Shiori-chan. I didn’t know what trick she’d pulled, but bottom line: Livia was here. Right in front of us.
And that meant—she had to die.
The first to move were Chinatsu-chan and Cartera.
”End it, violet lightning—bury all things! Roaring Thunder!!”
”Hyooo! What a bolt!”
Cartera, the strongest witch alive, unleashed a colossal thunderstrike. Livia barely redirected it with some kind of ward, but before the crackle had even faded, Chinatsu-chan was already there, blade flashing up from below.
”Livia-sensei—different face, huh? Well. I’ll take your head and run some experiments♡”
”Trash! You’re just a nobody, not even a witch—don’t act so high and—gah!”
A shimmer flared from Livia’s earring, barrier blossoming. Chinatsu-chan’s fierce slash bit into it, leaving only a scratch. My gut twisted. She had more tricks like that tucked away, I was sure of it.
”Takumi-sama, behind me.”
”Yeah. Thanks.”
Meruru’s defensive magic wrapped around me, the First Emperor, both Hikari-chans, Rira-chan, and Aria. Outside it, Ginga-kun’s magic blade burst apart uselessly, Grano’s axe struck sparks and bounced.
”You’ll pay, you bastards—!”
”No. We’ll kill you. For my Takumi-sama… the one you murdered!!”
Cartera thundered again, lightning crashing down. This time Livia’s barrier visibly cracked, her face losing its sneer. My chest leapt—this might be it. This might be the moment. We could actually kill her—!
”Ahahaha! Die for me, become Chisame’s dinner!”
”Chinatsu-chan, me too…! For everyone you’ve killed, Livia-sensei—no, Sakasaki Livia!!”
Even Ginga-kun, a Ranked swordsman, charged with raw fury. Blow after blow, barrier crumbling under relentless assault.
”For Sheryl-sama, for Flavia-sama—Heavy Crush Fist!!”
Minister Roshima hurled himself forward, fist crashing like a hammer. He had to know it was suicide, but that was the point—if his life bought even a heartbeat of opening.
”Worthless, worthless, WORTHLESS!! You nobodies—you side characters—you couldn’t do a damn thing on your own, and now you dare stand against me?!”
Shrieking, Livia ripped out her other earring.
”Come forth!!”
”That’s… forced teleportation.”
”What the hell’s that supposed to mean?”
I knew anyway—thanks to the First Emperor’s memories. A forbidden spell, cheating the laws of the world by devouring lifespan. And with it, she summoned reinforcements.
”Well. At your call…”
”I was mid-mission, but so sudden—desuwa.”
Two women appeared between us and her. One—gentle, soft, long blue hair. The other—black-haired, sharp-eyed, clad in priest’s robes. But their power? Blazing, unmistakable.
”Maribel, Floria. Kill them all.”
”I don’t really understand, but… forgive me, everyone.”
”But, Livia-sama—that one there is a god.”
”Fake. Kill her. I’ll take her divinity for myself.”
”If that is your order… I obey.”
Maribel raised her staff. Floria leveled her spear.
And I knew them. Court witches. Ranking number four, Witch of the Four Seas, Maribel, from Astoria. And ranking number two, Azure Witch, Floria, from the Theocracy. In other words—Haruka-chan’s predecessors, once the strongest of our era.
”Maribel, Floria… even these monsters under your thumb?”
”They’re wasted on you, but Cartera’s death alone makes up the cost.”
”Then let us begin. Be swallowed by the sea.”
Maribel chanted—and the chamber became ocean. Summoning itself, pulling a sea into existence. Only Meruru’s defense kept us from drowning. Roshima wasn’t so lucky; Floria’s spear impaled him clean. Chieri-san too—slowed in water, cut down.
”Roaring Thunder!!”
Cartera still blasted lightning—but its bite was dulled. She was hesitating, terrified of catching Hikari. Grano and Ginga stalled Floria, buying Chinatsu-chan a window. She lunged at Maribel.
Meanwhile, Livia smirked, whispering another spell. Dread prickled up my spine.
”God. Prepare yourself.”
Floria’s spear thrust again. Meruru’s barrier groaned, splintering. No one among us could face her head-on—not without the First Emperor’s knight, barred from this hall.
”Just die already, you insects!”
”No—you will die, Livia!”
Cartera froze the sea, ice spears stabbing from all sides. But underwater, too weak.
I searched desperately—Chinatsu was winning. Maribel, slashed and bleeding, reeled, trying to escape. But witches are for long-range fire, not close duels. Without the sea, she’d crumble.
”Chinatsu-chan, go! You can do it!”
”Mmhm, Tak-kun’s cheers—courage times a hundred♡”
I felt it. Chisame feeding. My knees buckled under the drain—but Chinatsu surged, blade ripping through Maribel’s shield.
”Die for me.”
”No—stop, please—!”
The sword did not stop. Maribel’s cry cut short as her head spun away, blood arcing. And with her, the sea vanished.
But so too did Meruru’s barrier.
”Run—!”
”Strong, yes. But outdated. Witches without close combat… belong in the past.”
Floria’s spear tore through Meruru’s back. She tried to grab it, to hold it—but it ripped free, blood spraying. She collapsed. Damn it. The rumors of her spear arts—they were true.
I barely had time to breathe before Floria’s eyes locked on me.
Next was me.
My spine went cold. Memories spun like a reel. Was this it? Was I going to die here?
Her spear lunged—merciless.
But… I was still alive.
”Idiot, me. Learn from this.”
The shaft jutted from a chest—not mine. The First Emperor’s.
”You should’ve known, Takumi. Aria would’ve done this.”
Because in front of me—was Aria. Like she’d sworn, throwing herself as my shield. But in front of her—First Emperor. His chest skewered, his hand clamping the spear.
”Takumi-samaaa!!”
Cartera’s scream cracked the air. Lightning roared, slamming into Floria from behind. Her eyes went dull.
”Aria… this time, I didn’t let you die.”
Back then, when mercenaries took them in—Aria shielded him, died in his place. In chaos, in blood. Takumi, I love you. But I’m sorry. I’m going to die. Be happy with Hikari. She’d said, kissed him, and gone.
Now, he flipped that fate. Protecting her instead.
”Tak-kun… thank you.”
Aria kissed me, fast, desperate. I didn’t push her away. I was dying anyway. Behind us, Meruru rallied, barrier shimmering again.
”Meruru.”
”Not… fatal. I’ll live.”
Clutching her gut, Meruru still stood. And me—I sagged in Aria’s arms, fading.
”So warm… Sorry, Hikari-chan, Cartera. At the very end, I cheated again.”
”It’s not cheating, Takumi. We’re all loving each other.”
”…Thanks. Cartera. Kill Livia. For us…”
My body shattered into light, returning to a magic stone.
And so—the First Emperor of Quvar, me, finally erased the past where Aria died for him. This time, he died for Aria. Smiling.
Notes:
• Cartera – Eternal Witch — The First Emperor’s mistress and a resurrected sorceress of immense power. Cruel and seductive, she takes pleasure in destruction and defilement. Her loyalty to the Emperor is absolute, and she shares his desire to end the world. First appears in v9c3.
• Livia – 8th-ranked imperial witch, heir of Cartera and friend of Lilus (Neige’s sister), whose death drove her to hate Quvar. Austere, sharp, and feared, she opposed the Ghost Army and toppled Emperor by using then betraying Gritch, secretly backing Princess Sheryl. First appears v9c3. Reminder: Brilliant witch who twists loyalties to save the world.
• Chinatsu – White Wall — Black hair, B-cup. Adventurous, masochistic, Takumi’s first slave & lover. Master of Asakura-ryu Iaijutsu, wields cursed sword Chisame (blood-powered). 12th-ranked fighter, close to Hikari. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
• Hikari-chan – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Hikari – 4th Division leader. Stressed, relies on Takumi.
• Grano – The Black Flame General, a legendary figure from Quvar’s past, now resurrected as part of the First Emperor’s ghostly host. Known for his ruthless tactics and unwavering loyalty to the Emperor, Grano commands a significant portion of the undead army. He is disdainful of the living, particularly those who oppose the Emperor’s plans, and shows no mercy in battle. His presence, alongside other legendary generals like Belhart, underscores the immense threat posed by the Emperor’s forces. First mentioned in v9c7.
• Rira – A classmate and one of Takumi-kun’s harem members. She has J-cup breasts and short black hair, which she plans to dye blue. Rira enjoys playful and creative expressions of intimacy, including cosplay and affectionate physical affection. Rira is also known for her ‘Intuition’ skill, which has been evolving into something more advanced. She is a key figure in Takumi-kun’s life, offering both emotional and physical support. First appearance in v1c15.
• Sheryl – Second Princess of the Quvarian Empire, a striking beauty with red hair. Initially appears as a diplomatic envoy, but she is a reformer within the empire, seeking to atone for Quvar’s past betrayals, particularly the destruction of the Northern Kingdom. Sheryl is highly intelligent and politically savvy, using her position to gather secrets and undermine the empire’s plans to destroy McGaref. She is also a slave to Takumi, bound by enslavement magic, and tasked with sowing chaos within Quvar. Despite her circumstances, she maintains a sense of duty and hopes to bring about change. First appears in v6c26.
• Roshima – Empire’s War Minister, stern and pragmatic, loyal to Princess Sheryl’s reformists. Opposed the Ghost Army with Livia, wielding great military authority while lamenting the empire’s decline. First appears v9c11. Reminder: Steadfast warlord guarding Sheryl’s path.
• Haruka – Witch of Destruction — Silver-haired, F-cup. Former class vice-president, now a powerful witch. Wields the Agilaus Staff, capable of devastating ritual magic. Became the world’s strongest after acquiring the ‘Dark Emperor of the Abyss’ as a familiar. Exhibits exhibitionist tendencies, often seeking public intimacy with Takumi. Deeply devoted to him, balancing her role as a leader with her desires. First appears in v1c1 Prologue.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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