Volume 2 Chapter 34 Azrael’s ‘Leap’ User
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The young man with blonde hair and a shaved side slowly approached the undead (不死者) female magician, who was trying to rise from the stone coffin, while shaking the sun-shaped earrings.
”No, I will assist as well. It’s a bodyguard mission after all.”
”Not needed. I can’t let you take all the glory.”
Oswald said this with a playful wink.
He positioned his long sword upright beside his ear.
His stance had changed from earlier.
That stance was──.
That stance was.
”‘Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship.’ Actually, I can use it too.”
Flames flickered like an illusion around the long sword he held.
It was the same technique as before.
(I see, the mysterious technique earlier was his ‘impact.’)
’Who is this guy…?’
”This swordsmanship is my greatest weapon. It’s the reason I am called a sword saint, and it even broke the power of the ‘Knights of the Sun,’ said to be the strongest in the West. It reaps lives──the left hand of Azrael.”
Oswald emitted magic power from his body, wrapping it around his legs.
That was ‘Leap’──.
It was a basic technique that enhances speed, often used by Kian.
”‘Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship,’ complete mastery of ‘Leap.’ Oswald of Ramsey.”
With a whoosh──.
Red magic power erupted all over Oswald’s body.
”Here I come.”
His whispering voice resonated clearly in the basement space.
By the time the voice reached them, he had kicked off the stone floor, leaving behind a blast of flames.
Just like when Kian used ‘Leap,’ the golden youth’s body shimmered.
Leaving a red mist in the air, he moved onto the pedestal and slashed the dried-up female magician’s corpse that was trying to crawl out of the coffin.
’──────!!!!’
The long sword wielded by Oswald did not just slice the female magician’s withered body in 2.
From where the sword touched, bright red flames erupted, engulfing her entire body──.
It was an incredible firepower, as if using gunpowder or oil.
Oswald’s ability seems to be particularly effective against undead monsters.
The mummy of the female magician crumbled away, unable to resist the flames.
”……”
’What on earth…!’
In a rare moment, the ‘glasses’ expressed a voice of astonishment.
Oswald’s power was overwhelming to that extent.
The ruler of flames──.
Such a phrase floated in Kian’s mind.
’────…’
A thin, mournful scream rose at the end.
It was a death throes scream.
The mummy of the woman, dressed in tattered rags, clawed at the void as if seeking help.
It exposed something resembling a massive thorn from its chest.
The thorn turned black and shattered into pieces as it was engulfed in flames.
Eventually, as the flames died down, it was completely incinerated.
* * *
”When I first saw your swordsmanship, I was captivated by that beautiful technique. To be precise, it was a club, though.”
Oswald, who had crushed the resurrected undead in one blow, slowly returned while saying this.
His footsteps were quiet.
However, perhaps due to the lingering excitement of battle, red sparks still danced around the young man’s body.
As he approached, it felt as if he were standing next to a wood stove, making his body warm.
Oswald sheathed his long sword and directed his golden eyes straight at Kian.
”Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship is a powerful killing technique. Many pay a fortune to acquire its power. However, techniques obtained through money are often far from the original, incomplete, or tainted by their own theories and philosophies.”
”……”
”But your ‘Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship’ is completely different from the imitation of any warrior monk. It is very faithful to the original, and there are no flaws in the technique. ──I mentioned construction earlier, but to borrow your words, it is ‘beautiful.’ I fell in love with your swordsmanship when you wielded a crude club ‘rationally’ and sank Shield Cain in a single Leap. ──It’s wonderful. This is the real deal. That’s why I couldn’t understand you.”
Oswald smiled broadly.
He continued.
”However, once I’ve decided to trust you, I won’t pry into your background any further. You are an excellent warrior, and you fought alongside me. That makes you a comrade. Isn’t that enough?”
”What about you?”
”Huh?”
”Who exactly are you?”
Kian shot a sharp glance from behind his ‘glasses.’
Oswald’s swordsmanship was flawless.
It was the work of a true master, incomparable to the assassins sent by Azrael to target Maribel.
The smooth execution of ‘impact’ and the beautifully lingering afterimage of ‘Leap’ were all perfect.
It was as if he were watching the sword techniques of Umar Vahid, who had been both a master and a father to him.
It was a movement that could not be achieved solely through talent, but rather through blood, sweat, and rigorous training.
”Where did you learn ‘Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship’?”
”Long ago, I had the opportunity to learn in Azrael. A long time ago. This is something that pertains to my essence, so I would prefer not to delve too deeply into it.”
”……”
”If you’re going to talk about yourself, then I suppose I can share a little.”
”Then I’ll refrain. I don’t want to talk much about my past.”
”Hahaha, you’re a cold man! Don’t you have any interest in me?”
”I’m just starting to feel a bit interested.”
”You’re an honest one. But I’ll make you obsessed with me. When we confess our origins to each other without lies, I have a feeling we will become one-of-a-kind best friends. The other day, you asked me, ‘Why do you help me?’ and the reason is something like that. Once I reveal it, it might seem like a trivial reason.”
Kian shook his head.
”If I were Sir Oswald, I would likely have the same obsession. Anyone would be interested in someone who can perfectly replicate the swordsmanship they take pride in. ──Who could that person be?”
”I’m glad you can relate. ──Now,”
Oswald looked around the desolate underground prison.
”Let’s stop chatting here. …Damn, the female magician’s body is burned. As expected, this power is difficult to control, so it’s annoying.”
”I retrieved a brown hair that had fallen into the coffin. It belongs to ‘Leanan sídhe’. It will be perfect for burying in the tomb. ──By the way.”
”What is it?”
”Sir Oswald mentioned earlier, in passing, that you study vampires for the sake of immortality. Is that true?”
”Is that strange? Once someone gains power and wealth, wouldn’t they want time next? It’s not just a matter for magicians. What about you?”
”Eternal life, huh?”
Kian pondered while holding a torch over the empty stone coffin.
’Glasses’ chuckled softly in his mind.
’If one becomes a vampire-like human, life becomes semi-permanent. Immortality lies on the extension of the desire for power.’
”…But first, one must gain power and wealth.”
”Hehe, you should be able to do that quickly. If you want, just let Her Excellency take care of it.”
”────. Are you serious?”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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