Chapter 563 God-Slayer
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I glared at Darius over the hilt of Yamikirimaru, still sheathed.
(Next, I let him make the first move. And then──)
──I have to stop his first strike no matter what, and connect it to my katana draw.
My katana, even the Four Heavenly Kings can’t seem to catch it.
”If you’re not coming… I’ll come to you!”
Darius stepped back into my range again.
Just like before, he instantly closed the distance, and swung his sword down in a wide overhead arc.
(I’ve been waiting for this moment!)
I raised Yamikirimaru, which I’d lowered to my feet, to block the sword looming over my head.
Of course, it was still sheathed.
A tremendous impact surged through my arm, but I somehow managed to receive Darius’s blow.
For a moment, shock flashed across Darius’s face.
But when I grinned, he returned the smile.
(I’ve won…!)
With a momentary shing of the sheath, I swiftly drew Yamikirimaru and slashed horizontally across Darius’s side.
”Gah…!”
I cut through Darius’s abdomen, armor and all, and fresh blood gushed out.
”A…amazing…!”
”You were covered in magical power… It’s not a fatal wound…”
I spoke to Darius, who was clutching his abdomen, and sheathed Yamikirimaru.
”Are you… truly capable of awakening Lady Frejya?”
”Yeah… well, if it’s a part of Frejya using the God-Slayer as a vessel… That’s it. I don’t know what state the main body is in. I have to ask Lilith or Frejya herself.”
Darius, looking up at me, grinned again.
”I have no choice but to believe you… huh?”
”Rest assured. What my lord says is the truth.”
Lilith’s voice came from behind me.
When I turned around, there was Lilith smiling… and Kazumi!
”Sorry… I made you worry, Hiroya…”
I left Darius as he was, ran to Kazumi… and embraced her tightly.
”I… it hurts, Hiroya.”
”You idiot… making me worry like this! Just hold on a little longer!”
I pulled Kazumi tightly into my arms and lifted her up.
”I told you I’m sorry, didn’t I?”
”I won’t forgive you…”
”Thank you for saving me…♡”
As Kazumi’s lips brushed against my cheek, all my strength evaporated, and I gently lowered her back to the ground.
”Don’t you have anything to say to me? I’m the one who helped you, after all, and healed all your little wounds♡”
”Thanks, Lilith!♡”
Kazumi kissed Lilith’s cheek as she sought her gratitude.
And what a blissful expression Lilith had.
”I-It’s really Lady Lilith…?!”
A groan escaped from Darius’s lips.
”It has been a while, Darius Grant.”
As Lilith placed her hand over Darius’s forehead while he knelt in deep respect, a green light enveloped him.
”The light of healing…!? So you truly are the real, Lady Lilith…!”
”…to be precise, I am a part of myself manifested through Yamikirimaru.”
Lilith looked down gently at Darius, appearing like a true goddess.
”Seeing you like this… it really does confirm that Lilith is a real goddess, doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t help but nod along with Kazumi, who echoed the exact sentiment.
”But Darius… you’re Lady Frejya’s attendant, right? Aren’t you an enemy of Lilith?”
”I am well aware of the good relationship between Lady Frejya and Lady Lilith. The conflict arose from misunderstandings among both their followers and… it was orchestrated by someone who intended to incite discord between the two factions.”
Darius, still on his knees, gazed at Kazumi.
”Not wanting to be part of such conflict, I have served here for a long time as Lady Frejya’s guardian.”
* * *
”My wish is… the liberation of Lady Frejya. Until that happens, neither my body nor my soul can perish.”
This was Darius’s answer to my question about why he had lived for nearly 800 years, even as a human after the end of the ancient civilization.
”Well, it’s not something that can just be willed into existence.”
”It is likely… a blessing from Freyja’s magical power that fills the depths of this labyrinth.”
I interjected, but Lilith began her rational explanation.
”Most of it continues to be absorbed by the Dungeon Core, used to maintain this Great Labyrinth… However, for this loyal servant who continues to worship Freyja, a small portion of magical power is supplied directly from Freyja herself.”
”Does that mean Lilith, who is trapped in the Welnia Labyrinth, is in the same situation?”
Lilith nodded at Kazumi’s question.
”Therefore… severing the connection between Freyja and the Dungeon Core will lead to her liberation. By defeating the Floor Boss in the deepest layer, the dungeon will be conquered… and the Core will reset.”
With those words, Lilith elegantly rose to her feet.
After staring at me for a moment, her gaze shifted to the depths of the cave.
”My Lord… the God-Slayer.”
”Ah, that’s the first step. ──Isn’t that right, Darius?”
”Indeed. I have seen your power. I can entrust the God-Slayer to you… Lady Frejya.”
Though he answered weakly, Darius looked up at me with a smile.
”What will you do?”
I asked Darius, still smiling.
”I shall… watch over you from here. Now that I have entrusted you with the liberation of Lady Frejya, all I can do is wish and pray from this spot.”
Darius pointed toward the depths of the cave.
”I’m counting on you. For the God-Slayer… for Lady Frejya.”
”Absolutely. I will free Freyja without a doubt, then set Lilith free, and finally confront Azradelius, the cause of all this… and I’ll deliver a blow to that Supreme God who commanded it all.”
”Hehe… With you, it really seems like you might give that Supreme God a real whack.”
With a chuckle, I turned my back on Darius and headed deeper into the cave.
* * *
On a flat rock shelf lay a white-sheathed katana, simply placed there.
It seemed to be a tachi that pairs with Yamikirimaru, and as I picked it up and sheathed it alongside Yamikirimaru at my waist…
(White and black… just doesn’t match, does it…)
Color aside, the Ōwakizashi and the tachi.
The balance when drawn is good.
Holding back the urge to draw it, I head back to Lilith and the others first.
”Wow♡ Hiroya, having 2 swords is so cool♡ You look like a real samurai♡”
Kazumi looks at me with a dreamy expression.
Just seeing Kazumi like this makes getting this God-Slayer worth it.
──No, that’s not it.
”I haven’t even drawn it yet… What should I do? It took a long time for Lilith to awaken, right?”
”Hmm. It’s because I received a lot of my lord’s magical power. ──As for Frejya, how is she doing…”
Lilith thinks for a moment.
Soon, she lifts her face and smiles.
”Let’s first hone the magical power and channel it into the God-Slayer’s blade.”
”Hey? Before that… shouldn’t we meet up with everyone first? I sent a message of safety through telepathy, but… I think everyone’s worried.”
Kazumi is right.
They’re definitely worried.
”No, Kazumi… What if, even if I channel the magical power, Frejya doesn’t awaken within the God-Slayer…”
I don’t know.
I feel like Lilith is smiling with a really bad expression.
”If she doesn’t awaken?”
”‘Inject the lord’s s*men.’ That’s the only way,♡”
Lilith answers Kazumi’s question with a bright smile.
”What the heck are you talking about! Are you saying to pour s*men into the God-Slayer!?”
”Well, it will probably come to that.”
What the… Hey, look at Darius?
He’s fainted from hearing this!
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply