Chapter 460 Disenchantment
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Shinji’s POV)
Suddenly, Giacomo turned to look at the figure of Bone that appeared in the entrance hall.
The youma following him surrounded me, still menacing Bone.
”Bone Schnabel… a royal troublemaker.”
Giacomo asked, but Bone was whistling while digging in his ear.
”You were also part of the fake hero party… After I defeat Shinji O’Brian, I’ll take my time to slowly kill you, so just stay there quietly.”
”Ah, about that…”
Bone started to talk lazily, undeterred by Giacomo’s threats.
”I have no intention of helping Shinji, nor do I plan to tend to his injuries. This place is for you and Shinji to duel…”
”A commendable attitude.”
”This situation is your created opportunity. I don’t intend to interfere. ──But…”
Bone puffed air on his pinky finger and walked toward me.
”Stop!”
When Giacomo shouted at Bone, the youma around me hurried to surround him.
”Hmm. This should be good…”
Bone stopped and raised both hands toward me.
”Let me say it again. You created this opportunity, but the limitation preventing Shinji from fighting the youma… is not your achievement. I will remove this handicap…”
”What──!?”
Magical power enveloped Bone as he smiled slyly at Giacomo.
”‘Disenchantment!’ “
As Bone’s voice rang out, my whole body began to glow faintly.
”Bone…, this…?”
”It’s a temporary disenchantment, anyway… After dealing with Carla’s old man and seeing her off, I’m mentally exhausted, and my magical power hasn’t recovered at all. ──5 minutes, that’s all. I’ll somehow manage to get through this.”
(The heaviness in my body that I’ve felt since the battle began has vanished…)
Ever since I was cursed by Azradelius, I’ve felt unwell when I take up my sword.
It’s probably the effect of the curse.
Can Bone even temporarily nullify that…?
”Five minutes, huh… that’s enough!”
Enduring the pain in my chest, I readied my sword and kicked off the floor.
* * *
”As fast as ever, and your skill is sharp, Shinji.”
Without turning around, I cut down the ‘last youma’ standing behind Bone, facing Giacomo.
”W-what… how did you…!?”
”Didn’t you see? Understand already, Giacomo. Shinji is not like your ‘ordinary Rank S.’”
Bone taunted, looking at the stunned Giacomo before me.
”That’s how it is. ──You can’t keep up with my ‘true speed’. Prepare yourself, Giacomo… let’s settle this.”
I pointed my longsword at Giacomo.
* * *
(Giacomo’s POV)
(This is the power of Shinji O’Brian──Heroic Swordsman…!)
I underestimated him.
We had confidence in having reached the 15th floor of the ‘Welnia Labyrinth.’
We believed we were undoubtedly the ‘strongest’ in the Romuna Kingdom and the Welnia Empire.
Yet, this man… cut down nearly 30 youmas in an instant.
And I couldn’t catch his movements…
(No… I still have a chance.)
Rebecca… Rebecca Raider’s ‘gift.’
In her barrier, I can stand against Shinji O’Brian.
(Rebecca is up against that kid. He seems to use some strange power, but it’s a battle within her barrier. She should be back soon…)
If I can withstand his attacks until then…
I opened the distance between myself and Shinji O’Brian with all my strength.
”Don’t let it go!”
Shinji O’Brian closed the distance with a speed far surpassing mine.
I deflected the swords attacking from both sides with my greatsword and tried to leap back again, but a sharp pain shot through my left knee.
The short sword I thought I had deflected pierced through the gap in my knee armor.
”No matter how hard you try to protect yourself, it’s useless. My sword will slowly carve you apart.”
A cold tone from Shinji O’Brian spread an unfamiliar ‘backward emotion’ throughout my body.
(Me… ‘afraid’…?)
With each swift movement, blood gushed from various wounds.
My injuries were such that it was only a matter of time before I could no longer stand.
(Where is Rebecca…?)
”You can’t win just by running away and protecting yourself. Or… are you waiting for something?”
Once again, the short sword slipped past my protection and gouged the gap in my right thigh armor.
”If you’re waiting for your comrades… give up. The spear-wielding giant has already been defeated.”
Shinji O’Brian averted his gaze from me.
I glanced in that direction…
(Is that… Gargantua?)
The ‘Oni-kin’ woman glared at me fiercely from the top of the stairs.
(Orten has been killed…)
The perceptive ‘Oni-kin’ seemed to have a bad matchup against Orten.
But I never expected anyone other than me to immediately see through his ‘gift.’
(Having been hurt this much… ──Once Rebecca returns, I’ll escape this place with her barrier and ‘recover’…)
”Do you have the luxury to look away?”
Hearing Shinji O’Brian’s voice up close, I hurriedly swung my greatsword to fend him off.
But immediately after, a sharp pain shot through my back.
”Gah!”
I must have been slashed from behind.
The pain forced me to the floor.
”My body is getting heavy again… it’s been about 5 minutes.”
”…Not yet… I won’t be killed yet…”
I managed to rise and respond to the voice I heard above me.
My vision narrowed, and the figure of Shinji O’Brian blurred as I looked up.
(Rebecca Raider… what are you doing… hurry…)
I readied the greatsword, feeling its weight heavier than usual.
* * *
(Shinji’s POV)
Giacomo, focused solely on Protection, kept fleeing.
He was likely waiting for the return of his female companion.
(It’s pointless… but I must do it.)
I desperately handled Giacomo’s clumsy Protection with my 2-handed sword.
I couldn’t help but sigh at his very un-S rank level of Protection.
(Those who are intoxicated by power… are so fragile once they crumble.)
Having not crossed swords with a strong opponent for a long time, I felt a flutter of excitement facing Giacomo.
I even thought I was enjoying the dire situation surrounded by youma.
And though it was ‘temporary’ with Bone, I intended to relish the full power I could unleash for the first time in over a decade.
(Nothing compared to Gargantua or Three-Face…)
Back then, I felt death close at hand while enjoying the thrill of facing a formidable enemy.
This time, facing the renowned ‘Giacomo Rultz’ as an S rank adventurer, I expected the same ‘tension’ as before.
(Weak…)
”If you’re waiting for your friends… give up. The spear-wielding giant has already been defeated.”
Giacomo, distracted by my words, averted his gaze despite being cornered.
(Clumsy…)
I swiftly took his back and slashed with my longsword.
And then… the time had come.
It seemed the ‘5 minutes’ Bone mentioned had passed.
Once again, a sense of lethargy returned to my body, but… the outcome was decided.
”…not yet… I won’t be killed yet…”
Groaning, Giacomo stood up.
Indeed, this man was still hoping for the return of another companion.
(It’s good to trust your friends. But…)
Just as I thought that, a voice came from behind me.
”What’s up, dad? It’s not over yet?”
Turning around, I saw Hiroya, the young man, smiling as he walked towards me, sheathing his beloved katana.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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