Kriemhild slowly raised her greatsword, ending the accumulation of magical energy at its tip. It was not because she could no longer hold out.
In truth, even without that fourfold burst of power, Kriemhild's own C-rank Strength and the terrifying weight of the Demon Sword Balmung were enough to keep Astolfo and Sieg pinned down.
Kriemhild had voluntarily abandoned her advantageous position.
Yet just as the two regained their stances and braced themselves, Kriemhild suddenly looked at Sieg, her delicate brows drawing together, and asked:
"Why do you carry his presence?"
"He saved me."
As Sieg said this, he instinctively pressed a hand over his heart. He offered no further explanation, but Kriemhild understood.
"Ah..."
She sighed and closed her gemlike gray-blue eyes. The temperature around them began to rise noticeably.
"Why, Siegfried... why... would you rather die than... than come see me even once..."
The queen's murmurs slowly dissolved into sobs. Crimson-black flames flowed up the Demon Sword's blade and engulfed her.
The next instant, the scarlet greatsword sliced open the cocoon woven from countless tongues of flame from within. Its tip pointed unwaveringly at Sieg.
"What is your name?"
The queen asked.
"Sieg."
The boy answered the queen's question, then explained:
"Because I don't want to forget him."
"You don't want to forget... do you? Very well. Come, then."
"What?" Sieg did not quite understand.
A smile curled Kriemhild's lips, though there was something sickly about it:
"Raise your sword against me and charge. Yes, you. Bring those two little girls with you. And I'll give you one more piece of advice-
Change your name, young man.
Hans, Schmidt, anything will do.
Otherwise, I'm afraid you'll end up dying young, as smugly satisfied as some hero."
On the grassland outside Yggdmillennia Castle.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The