At that moment, more than a dozen powerful knights and magicians appeared, all of them looking like the dead. Their goal was also to capture her. Thus, the two groups of "kidnappers," both pursuing the same objective, began fighting each other, while Yuri Wanitangi fled amid the chaos.
While fleeing, she encountered Kasukabe Touma. From him, she learned that Marquis Voban and Roy had arrived in Japan. She also discovered that the two groups who had tried to capture her earlier were subordinates of two kings. That was how the previous scene had come about.
"That's right. My name is Liliana Kranichar. I am the knight of 'King' Roy, and I am currently striving toward the title of the 'King's' personal knight. Yuri Wanitangi, I hope you won't resist and will simply come with me. That way, we can reduce the casualties."
Liliana remained courteous even when facing her enemy. She was an upright knight, but not a rigid one. As a knight, she strictly obeyed the "King's" orders. However, she was also kindhearted. If killing was necessary to complete a mission, she could do so without hesitation, as she had just done to Kasukabe Touma. But if an enemy had lost the ability to resist, she would still show them courtesy and try to minimize casualties.
"...Another Campione..."
Yuri Wanitangi muttered, her face filled with anger.
Liliana's tone was calm, but anyone who looked closely could still see the anxiety hidden within it.
She was worried about Erica.
She knew that the corpses they had encountered at the shrine were servants summoned by Marquis Voban's authority. Every one of them had been a renowned Great Knight or Great Magic user from the past two hundred years. Each had been a genius of their era. If there had been only one, either Erica or Liliana would have been able to deal with it. But with more than a dozen appearing at once, facing those knights and magicians was essentially the same as facing Marquis Voban's authority. It was almost certain death.
Nevertheless, in order to complete Roy's mission, Erica had faced them with the resolve to die. She had drawn those terrifying servants away with her body and engaged them in guerrilla warfare, while sending Liliana to capture Yuri Wanitangi so that their side could complete its mission.
Therefore, Liliana had to end this battle quickly. Only after capturing Yuri Wanitangi could she inform Erica and have her withdraw. The longer Liliana took to complete her mission, the greater the danger Erica would face.
Thinking this, Liliana no longer maintained her courtesy. Her concern for Erica, her best friend, outweighed everything else. She stepped forward twice and, as Yuri Wanitangi cried out in pain, grabbed her by the wrist.
"Come with me now, Yuri! I'm sorry for treating you so roughly, but for the sake of my friend, I have no choice."
Liliana apologized as she forcibly dragged Yuri Wanitangi away.
"If your friend is that girl, perhaps we can exchange hostages!"
Suddenly, a gentle female voice came from ahead on the road. Liliana looked forward warily and saw a girl in a Japanese high school uniform holding a Tachi. In her hand was the seriously injured Erica.
"...Grandfather said there was trouble in Tokyo and told me to send a girl named Yuri Wanitangi out of Japan. I suppose the trouble he mentioned must be you."
The girl spoke to herself. Though she looked like a well-bred Yamato Nadeshiko, there was a trace of natural wildness in both her words and her actions.
Fifty-First Chapter: The Forty-Meter Sword
"Erica?! What did you do to Erica?"
When Liliana saw Erica being brought by the Japanese middle-school girl, covered in blood and crisscrossed with wounds, even her beautiful face caked with dust and mud, she asked in a panic.
"So her name is Erica. I didn't do anything to her. I just saw her badly injured by the roadside and brought her along."
The Japanese girl holding the Tachi lowered her head and glanced at Erica, speaking casually.
Hearing this, Liliana breathed a sigh of relief. Then she glared coldly and asked, "...Who are you? What are you doing here?"
"My name is Ena Kiyōin. As for why I came here... well, I'm not entirely sure myself. Grandfather told me to do this. He said that the girl named Yuri Wanitangi in your hands was important and that he didn't want her destroyed by the two 'Kings.' He hoped I could send her to Yomi, where he could negotiate with the two 'Kings.' I'm only acting according to Grandfather's instructions."
Ena Kiyōin's voice was clear and bright. Judging from her innocent appearance, she truly seemed like nothing more than a girl carrying out orders.
"Lily! Don't worry about me. Take Yuri Wanitangi and leave quickly. She is the mission target demanded by the 'King.' Completing the 'King's' mission must take priority!"
Held in Ena Kiyōin's hands and seriously injured, Erica had regained some consciousness. After hearing Ena's words, she hurriedly shouted toward Liliana.
"I'm sorry, Erica—and you, silver-haired girl! You have your mission, and I have mine. I can't let you leave."
Ena Kiyōin gripped her Tachi and pointed its tip at Liliana. The warmth of the Yamato Nadeshiko vanished, replaced by killing intent on her youthful face.
Only Yuri Wanitangi, held by Liliana, was truly furious. She realized that neither Liliana nor Erica, who represented the "King," nor Ena Kiyōin—the representative of the Kiyōin Family and the "granddaughter" of the person she had heard about—had asked for her opinion. They were all treating her like an object to be traded.
"Ena Kiyōin, do you know what you're doing? Yuri Wanitangi is the Miko demanded by Lord Roy Crowley, our alliance leader of Italy and the Vatican. Have you considered the consequences of defying the 'King's' orders? Do you intend to make this Far East Island Nation bear the Demon King's wrath?"
Despite her severe injuries and weakness, Erica suddenly became stern and shouted the question.
Ena Kiyōin hesitated, but the somewhat simple-minded girl soon shook her head firmly. "...I know how terrifying the 'King's' wrath can be. But since this is Grandfather's order and request, I can only carry it out."
"Obstinate fool!"
Erica was furious. She was also dissatisfied with the "grandfather" Ena had mentioned. Where had this reckless old man come from? Did he have a death wish? Could he be hostile toward Japan and want the "King" to direct his anger at the country?
The more Erica thought about it, the more plausible that explanation seemed.
"Erica, I won't abandon you. I'll defeat this Ena Kiyōin here and rescue you. Then we'll take Yuri Wanitangi with us and report to the 'King' that we completed our mission!"
Liliana couldn't bear to watch her best friend suffer. She was afraid that if she took Yuri Wanitangi away, the girl named Ena Kiyōin might really cut Erica down with one stroke.
She used magic to seal Yuri Wanitangi's body, then pushed her aside. Gripping her beloved sword, Silver Master, she faced Ena Kiyōin.
"Lily, you..."
Seeing Liliana's choice, Erica felt both touched and exasperated.
She was moved that Liliana was willing to risk mission failure and the "King's" wrath to save her. But she was also frustrated that Liliana couldn't understand the current situation and was being far too stubborn.
Earlier, Erica had willingly used herself as bait to draw away the servants summoned by Marquis Voban. While fighting those dead servants, she had been completely outmatched and had narrowly escaped death several times.
But just as Erica was reaching her limit and about to be defeated completely, all the dead servants suddenly turned to ash and vanished. At that moment, Erica knew that Roy must have defeated Marquis Voban, causing the marquis's authority to lose its effect.
By then, however, Erica was already badly injured and lacked the strength to inform Liliana. She could only hope that Liliana would complete the mission. Then they could hand in a perfect report and successfully complete the first arduous task the "King" had given them.
Erica's plan had been sound, but she had encountered Ena Kiyōin, who had appeared from nowhere. Because of her severe injuries, she had become Ena's captive without putting up much resistance.
Her intention had been for Liliana to hurry away with Yuri Wanitangi and find Roy. Once Roy learned what had happened, the "King" could intervene personally. Even the entire Japanese supernatural world combined could not oppose him, and the matter would be resolved easily.
Moreover, with her silver tongue and intelligence, Erica could easily manipulate someone as obviously innocent as Ena Kiyōin. There would absolutely be no danger to her life.
Erica had planned everything perfectly. The one thing she had failed to anticipate was that Liliana, normally just as clever, would choose to fight out of concern for her safety.
The "Crimson Devil" could only smile bitterly. But she couldn't say any of this aloud. She could only hope Liliana would understand. Otherwise, if Ena Kiyōin learned what she was thinking, she might truly become agitated and cut Erica down.
"Choosing to fight? Very well. I've never feared battle. If fighting alone can resolve this matter, then that would be ideal."
Seeing Liliana take her stance, Ena Kiyōin seemed eager to try her skill.
She threw Erica aside and gripped the hilt of her Tachi with both hands.
"Lily, be careful. To end this quickly, I'm going all out from the start!"
"My name is Liliana Kranichar. You have no right to call me Lily!"
The silver-haired Knight Princess from Italy snorted coldly.
"Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi, I offer this body as a sacrifice. Please pacify the raging spirits!"
Ena Kiyōin ignored Liliana. Her expression solemn, she recited the Word Spirit. Her pure eyes overflowed with ferocious fighting spirit and killing intent. The Tachi in her hands began devouring the Magic Power around it, then poured that power into Ena Kiyōin's body.
In Liliana's eyes, Ena Kiyōin's Magic Power surged explosively. She even seemed to possess a trace of divine aura.
"What?!"
"Clang—"
In her haste, Liliana raised Silver Master horizontally before her and blocked the lightning-fast slash at the last possible instant.
"I can't maintain this state for long, so let's decide the victor quickly!"
The tremendous force transmitted through her hands made Liliana grit her teeth. Hearing Ena Kiyōin's confident voice, she realized she had been caught completely off guard. She had never expected Ena to possess Divine Possession, nor had she imagined that the Tachi in her hands was a Divine Artifact!
"Lily, be careful of the weapon in her hands! That is a Divine Artifact manifested from the true authority of a god!"
Erica urgently warned her.
"I know that without you telling me!"
Liliana shouted. Magic Power gathered within her body and burst outward. The violent magical wind forced Ena Kiyōin back. Just as Liliana was about to recite a spell and activate magic, a faint commanding voice sounded beside her ear.
"...Dodge, Lily."
The familiar voice delighted Liliana. She decisively stopped reciting the spell and rolled aside. A forty-meter-long blood-red cross-shaped greatsword then roared down, swinging like a gigantic axe.
Fifty-Second Chapter: A Man's Right Hand Is Invincible
The enormous blood-red cross-shaped greatsword descended like the majestic might of Heaven, carrying unfathomable authority. It dyed Ena Kiyōin's eyes blood-red.
"From Chiba's Broken—God's Hedge of Hair—May I Pass—Now I Name Myself—Alas!"
At the critical moment, she recited the final section of the Word Spirit of Divine Possession. The divine power within Ame no Murakumo no Tsurugi surged, and at the last possible instant, she raised it before herself.
"Boom!"
A tremendous explosion rang out. Ena Kiyōin felt an irresistible force crash into both her arms. Her body went limp, and she dropped to one knee. Her dark-blue student socks were scraped open, revealing her smooth, pale calves, while her knees were covered in bloody abrasions from the ground.
Compared with these external injuries, the internal damage was even worse. Blood flowed from her mouth and nose, sliding down the corners of her lips. The divine power supporting her body also vanished abruptly, leaving her weak and utterly drained.
The blood-red greatsword, dozens of meters long, still carried the force of its swing. It cleaved through the Japanese two-story houses behind Ena Kiyōin, leaving a deep sword mark through the Tokyo alley.
"Rumble—"
Dust billowed and buildings collapsed. With one sweep of the greatsword, the entire district became a ruin.
"Tap—tap—tap—"
Clear, forceful footsteps came from ahead. The girls looked up and saw a boy emerge from the smoke. He appeared only slightly older than them.
His red Cardinal robes were damaged, the result of his battle with Marquis Voban. Roy's exposed skin was covered in crisscrossing wounds and blood. His battle with the oldest Demon King had left him seriously injured as well, but those were merely superficial wounds and did not affect his movements.
Most eye-catching was the Golden Giant Hand extending from his right shoulder. It held a blood-red cross-shaped greatsword. The slash from before had been delivered by this Third Hand.
Roy's Divine Right could also strengthen his other authorities. However, that ability could currently be used only once every seven days, so he normally had no use for it. Only now, after defeating Marquis Voban with the Light of the Right, had the Third Hand displayed this function.
Roy was currently using the Third Hand to wield the Sword of Judgment. If he filled it with more Magic Power, he could even extend the sword to a kilometer in length and cut a mountain in half with one slash. But after his battle with Marquis Voban, Roy had little Magic Power left. Besides, facing a girl like Ena Kiyōin did not require him to waste much power to defeat her easily.
"Campione! A Campione..."
Ena Kiyōin knelt on one knee and breathed heavily. A wound on her forehead gushed blood, leaving one of her eyes unable to open. This was the power of a Campione. Even though Roy was at his weakest and had little Magic Power remaining, defeating a powerful Miko with a Divine Artifact had taken no more than a casual wave of his hand.
"A Campione..."
After seeing Roy, Yuri Wanitangi's teeth chattered. Fear, dread, disgust, and other emotions appeared together in her eyes. Her legs felt as though they had been filled with lead, and even taking a single step forward was difficult. She could already sense the same aura on Roy that she had sensed from Marquis Voban: cruelty, brutality, ruthlessness, and unimaginable strength.
"'King'!"
Erica and Liliana were both overjoyed when Roy arrived.
"Please forgive Erica for being unable to welcome you properly. And please forgive Liliana and me for failing. We couldn't even handle such a small matter and had to trouble you, 'King,' to resolve it personally."
Erica struggled to stand and lowered her head guiltily.
Liliana hurried over to support Erica. By then, Ena Kiyōin no longer had the strength to stop her.
"If you must punish someone, please punish me! This was all my failure. Erica did everything she could. Please don't blame her!"
Liliana supported Erica's swaying, severely injured body and lowered her head as she pleaded for forgiveness.
Roy looked at Erica. The once dazzling and proud girl now appeared extremely miserable. Her bright golden hair was disheveled, and some of the sword wounds on her body were deep enough to expose bone. Yet a fourteen-year-old girl facing such potentially fatal injuries did not cry out in pain, instead enduring through sheer willpower. Roy could not bring himself to speak too harshly to her.
He said gently, "...To have accomplished this much while facing Marquis Voban's authority, Erica, you've done very well. In fact, this achievement is enough to rival the valor your uncle once displayed when facing a Divine Beast, even in the entire magical world. I won't blame you for failing. Instead, I praise your courage."
"...However, the fact remains that you and Liliana failed your mission. I am a man who clearly distinguishes rewards and punishments. Once your body has recovered, I will punish you."
When he mentioned punishment, Roy's gaze became slightly strange, and there was an ambiguous undertone in his voice.
"I am willing to accept any punishment you give me, 'King'!"
Erica didn't notice Roy's odd expression. But she could tell from his tone that he did not care much about their failure, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"That hand... What exactly is it?"
Ena Kiyōin stared fixedly at the strange hand on Roy's right shoulder. Whenever she looked at it, she felt a chill throughout her body, as though she had encountered something indescribable. Even her mind seemed to fear collapsing.
"What is this hand? It is a 'miracle' capable of erasing humanity with the slightest wave!"
Roy spoke with leisurely composure.
"That's impossible!"
Hearing Roy's explanation, Ena Kiyōin and the immobile Yuri Wanitangi both turned deathly pale. Even Erica and Liliana were at a loss for words. As knights, they had never seen Roy's Miracle Hand before.
"What's impossible about it? Don't underestimate a man's right hand. Even an ordinary man can easily erase hundreds of millions of humans with a few waves."
Roy wore a serious expression as he delivered a frivolous remark.
The four girls froze. However, sex education in Japan and Italy was quite good. Although they were young, all four immediately understood the deeper meaning of Roy's words.
Liliana's face flushed red, and she stammered, "...'King,' please... please pay a little more attention to the situation. This is a battlefield, so please don't make this kind of... this kind of dirty joke!"
Liliana had lived in Italy for a long time, but she was from Eastern Europe and had not inherited the Italians' passion. Erica, on the other hand, remained composed. Yet after hearing Roy's joke, she inexplicably remembered the punishment he had mentioned and suddenly felt uneasy.
Roy fell silent. He secretly warned himself to make fewer jokes like that in the future. Otherwise, he might truly follow in his father Aleister's footsteps and become a lecherous old man who loved telling dirty jokes.
Then his gaze sharpened. Sodom's Eye activated, and the authority fixed Ena Kiyōin in its magical sight.
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