The Spearmaster and the Black Cat

Chapter 174

I returned to Halphania, the royal capital of the Zamalia Kingdom, where my father lives, under the stifling heat of high noon .

At that specialized antique shop I could sell the ancient gold coins at a rate of one ancient gold coin for one platinum coin and five gold coins .

Put together with the money I had received from Sol, it amounted to quite a hefty sum .

Really, thank you, Shuuya .

It took me a few days and I had to sell all ancient gold coins, but I was able to find an excellent doctor to spend all the money on the medical fees for my father .

The doctor, a scaled manKaramnian, talked about a precious medicine, refined by using an Amros pearl, the web of a pigmin which can't be found anywhere but on the island of Amros located in the Lodelia Sea, the feather of the Holy Bird Cuncludo, and the flesh of merpeople .

But it looks like he was right . Father's terrible curse wound is gradually healing .

"…You, the money for this medicine…"

"Yeah, I did my best at work, so don't worry about it . Dad, if you directly apply this medicine on the wound, it will be gone before long . You have to put up with this just a bit longer . " (Yui)

"Work, huh? I heard about the one that succeeded my post…"

"Don't mind it . The Frogman family is still persisting . " (Yui)

"…Yeah, sorry . Yui, thank you a lot . "

Dad is very skinny .

After he talked with vacant eyes to me, he closed his eyes and fell asleep .

◇◇◇◇

A few days passed and the curse wound had completely disappeared from Dad's body .

He's still bedridden, but he has visibly gotten better . I used the opportunity to ask Dad something that made me wonder .

"Dad, how did you get this wound?" (Yui)

"This is an injury I received from sacrificing myself in a battle against Hyatos-sama's political enemy . "

"What did you say!?" (Yui)

"You didn't hear about it?"

"…No . So you're saying you didn't received any decent support while suffering from illness, even though you protected Hyatos-sama?" (Yui)

"It couldn't be helped . In a certain way it's a warning . I made a mistake while being no more than a game piece . "

Dad lowers his eyes slightly, seemingly feeling pathetic .

"But…" (Yui)

"―But you were hired, weren't you? That became a big help, didn't it?"

"Ah, yeah…" (Yui)

"Yeah, your skills as assassin are top notch . I'm sure you will manage to contribute in various ways…*cough* *cough*"

Suddenly he has a coughing fit .

"You alright, Dad!?" (Yui)

"Yeah…I'm going to sleep for a bit . "

I actually didn't tell Dad about it, but I still haven't reported back to Hyatos-sama .

More than a month has already passed since I've returned .

Hyatos-sama should be fully aware of my activities since coming to this mansion .

If I don't report to him quickly…is what I thought, but I'm scared of doing it .

Until now it has never happened that I failed in following my orders .

Sorry, Dad .

Because of me…Dad, the Frogman family might be crushed .

In depression I head over to Hyatos-sama's big mansion and recount the details of the events .

"…I see, so you've failed . " (Hyatos)

I bowed my head in the Marquis family's office with its characteristic cedar wood scent .

"I'm terribly sorry . " (Yui)

"And you're quite late in coming here, aren't you? I heard that you made various efforts for your father?" (Hyatos)

"Yes . " (Yui)

"Do you know why I didn't made a move on your mansion?" (Hyatos)

"Because Dad was a great soldier and assassin?" (Yui)

I reflexively creased my forehead and looked at the Marquis .

"Indeed . It's because you and your father are former subordinates who contributed to my cause . But, you showed up here late…returning while knowing that orders are absolute for the 【Anbu's1Right Hand】, didn't you?" (Hyatos)

Hyatos-sama narrows his fox eyes and glares at me .

"Yes . " (Yui)

"An immediate reply, huh…? You, Yui, did the atmosphere around you change somewhat after chasing after that lancer?" (Hyatos)

This man is perceptive .

Did he see through me finding my first love?

"…N-No, I just experienced with my own body that there are opponents against whom my swordsmanship doesn't work . " (Yui)

"I see . I'm well aware that there aren't any opponents who were able to escape your assassination in Zamalia . I guess the lancer you pursued is special after all . " (Hyatos)

"Yes . " (Yui)

"I'd like to state my own humble opinion, but are you going to pardon her failure, Your Excellency?"

The one asking while bowing next to Hyatos is a lean man called Azekay who possesses cloudy, grey eyes that have a size like those of a goldfish .

He's a person originating from the island nations and could be called an important leader of 【Anbu's Right Hand】, possessing a unique combat occupation called Corpse Caster .

"Of course there's no way that I can simply forgive her . " (Hyatos)

Hyatos throws a parchment at me .

Once I pick it up and look at it, it listed another assassination order .

"If you follow this order, I will make an exception and forgive you . You are the sole survivor of Nebulous's three masterpieces . Even as assassin, you can become a bodyguard . Losing your dual katana skill would be regrettable . " (Hyatos)

"Yes! Thank you very much . " (Yui)

"…Besides, the matter with Nereis'Kary went well . " (Hyatos)

It seems the job was finished while I wasn't here .

Certainly…besides the usual members Azekay and Rayku, several men and women that seem to be skilled fighters, who I don't recognize, are standing in the back and in front of the right and left corner .

Probably shadows that had been newly employed by the organization .

I'm called one of Nebulous's masterpieces, but in the end I'm no more than a single game piece .

"…As for the matter with that lancer, we will pretend that we ran into a stone at the roadside . "

Probably because the kidnapping of the princess went smoothly, Hyatos-sama is in a good mood .

I guess it has also been exposed to the people of Leften Kingdom that their leader has been involved with Zamalia and a marquis of Oseberia .

"That might be the best . Rather than that, the plan to lead the nobles of Leften Kingdom around by the nose was truly admirable . "

The one praising Hyatos is a tall man with a bald head called Rayku .

"Rayku, your subordinates performed quite well, didn't they?"

"Yes, indeed . The prided 【Twilight Knights】 of Leften's 【Secret Agency】 killed several of my skilled subordinates, but…we managed to succeed . This is also a result owed to Your Excellency's precise predictions and commands . As expected of Zamalia's Sage . It's said there's no one equal to you in Zamalia, Marquis-sama . " (Rayku)

Rayku lines up one flowery flattery after the other while folding the outer corners of his eye with a smile .

"Hahaha…well, I have the confidence to influence the current affairs better than the Lolju faction, the Rasny faction or the remnants of the old generation . " (Hyatos)

"Yes!" (Rayku)

"The one more problematic than the mob of nobles within the country is the that female fox outside the country, Chardonnay…" (Hyatos)

"…Oseberia Kingdom, huh? If I remember correctly, it was the subordinate of that Marquess who used a dark guild to maneuver around in the 【Violent Tower City Senapua】, wasn't it?"

"That's right . It's reliable information from 【Commandment of Rosen】 and 【Gate of the Hidden Evil】 after all . "

…Marquess of Oseberia?

If she's competing against Hyatos, she must be quite the woman .

"Oh? Yui, you were still here? Head over to your next job now . " (Hyatos)

A glare flashes in the Marquis' eyes .

"Yes, sir! Excuse me . " (Yui)

Tightly grasping the parchment with the target's description, I leave the room right away .

I come out at the main street after exiting Hyatos-sama's big mansion .

The names of a certain merchant and his adventurer guards were mentioned in the order .

It seems to be a peddler group that came from the island nations .

Anyway, if I don't accomplish this mission until Father recovers completely…

I press the switch of the magic tool for contacting the thieves guild located at the hanging bell in the harbor in order to head to the mission site . Although it might be called a magic tool, it only fires a magic fire into the sky .

While taking a rest at a street's terrace bar with an overhanging roof, I wait for the contact from the familiar of my acquaintance in the thieves guild .

―Ah, there it is, the crow familiar .

It landed on my table .

"WHaT, yOu caMe, bACk, YuI? WhaT'S witH, YOur uSuAl, pARtnErs, ZiEVe, and apOL?"

The black cat-chan that followed Shuuya around didn't talk, but this crow can pass on the words of its master .

But, it's limited to just repeating the words . It has no own consciousness .

"Both died . Leaving that aside, it's been a while, Ebi . Can I ask you for your help again?" (Yui)

I show the parchment to the crow .

"…TO fAiL tHe MIssIoN wiTh yOU thERE…" (Ebi)

"Don't mind it . I'd be happy if you could take a look just like in the old days . " (Yui)

"…UNderStooD . …tHEse gUYs aRe A comPANy THat haS thROwn iT'S WeiGht aROUnd hErE mosT REcenTLy . tHeY HavE a NEw sToRe loCATed aCroSS tHe PuPPet StrEeT oN thE HAlL SquarE . ThE gUarDS aRE calLed TaGGle BroThErS . ThEY aRe lYcaNtHRopeS . QuitE FoRmidAble . " (Ebi)

"Nothing less of you, Ebi . That was fast . Even if they are tough, it will be fine . I will make quick work of them myself . " (Yui)

"…i SeE, bYE ThEn――" (Ebi)

The crow flew off .

Lycanthropes, a kin of demons, huh?

It will be a bother if they transform, but if they see these <Eyes of Baycala> even once, I should be able to defeat them with ease…

But, this time I'm alone . Since Zieve, who excelled at sensing presences, isn't with me anymore, I have to be careful .

It will be fine as long as there's no opponent at Shuuya's level, but there's definitely no way for there to be several people like that spear, no, magic spear user . I'm overthinking things .

Alright, let's get rid of the Taggle Brothers first .

The Tsuchikado Company comes after that .

I start running .

―Arriving at the Puppet Street, I immediately recognized the target store .

<Hide> is already active .

I check each nook and cranny around the store…

Hidden alleys, the existence or absence of stairs and windows, the number of guards, and escape routes .

I immediately spotted the Taggle Brothers .

They are wearing spiked leather armor on their huge builds, and abnormal fur is growing out of their gloves, as characteristic for lycanthropes .

I could also confirm moon symbols on their foreheads .

Because they transform, they are often mistaken as mutation of leopard people, but lycanthropes are a totally different species .

I confirm my targets with <Eyes of Baycala> .

I will carry out the mission tonight .

……

◇◇◇◇

The moonlight fully illuminates the Puppet Street .

I clad my whole body in the Magic Combat Style and ran up to the reddish brown roof of the building next to my target .

After leaping over from there, I land in the drain, arriving on top of the roof of the Tsuchikado company's residence .

The two lycanthropes are standing guard on both sides of the entrance door, looking out over the street .

I looked down right below at my two targets .

―Time to go in .

Turning the blades of Azelos & Versage downwards, I descend in a straight line .

I killed one of the guards by stabbing with the two swords, obviously breaking the lycan's spine .

However, the other guard's reaction is swift .

Even after his brother was killed by me, he still drew his weapon calmly and closed the distance .

"Who are you?"

"…" (Yui)

Just for caution's sake, I activate <Eyes of Baycala> once more .

"――Those eyes! I know――"

The lycanthrope's face was cut in two .

I had shortened the distance with Magic Combat Step, and slashed down with my back-hand sword, Versage .

That's what happens if you talk in the middle of a battle .

Had he transformed, he might have gained a bit more time . What a stupid lycan .

Now, I just got to finish off Tsuchikado and it will be over .

I mustn't displease Hyatos-sama until Dad recovers .

Once he does…I'm going to chase after Shuuya .

I want to meet him, I really want to see him…I feel as if my heart is being squeezed while a heavy weight is pressing down on my chest

While thinking about such things, I trespass into the Tsuchikado company through a side door .

Goods are still stored in boxes here and there .

Tsk, the female employees were still awake…

I quickly hide myself and let them go past .

Tsuchikado is probably in there .

Once I enter, four people slept on the bed .

…Two of them are children .

There's also a person that seems to be his wife .

Only the company's Tsuchikado was mentioned in the commission .

It should be fine if I don't kill…his family, but limit it to just the man .

Am I…hesitating?

I check his features as described in the order .

It's him . I thrust Azelos into the chest of the bearded human man .

"…Papa . "

"!?"

One of the children woke up .

Our eyes meet .

"Who?"

It's a child resembling the man .

I have to deceive it .

"…The teeth fairy of darkness . " (Yui)

"Teeth fairy-san, why are you here?"

"…I came to see whether you're sleeping properly . If you don't close your eyes, I'm going to pull out your teeth so that you won't be able to sleep anymore . " (Yui)

"Oki . I will close my eyes~"

The child did as said…

It hasn't realized its father's death .

It's a rule to kill all witnesses .

But, for the current me that's impossible .

Even though I killed women and children without questions asked in the past .

…It looks like the past me doesn't exist anymore .

I learned of the warmth of others after falling in love with Shuuya .

I escaped from there in a hurry .

Running away like an amateur without even using the escape route…

Once I came to, I was crying .

It, for me…it might be impossible to be an assassin any longer .

I rushed to Hyatos's mansion while wiping my tears away .

Coming from the reception hall, I open his office's door and enter .

"…Welcome back . I suppose you finished your mission properly . " (Hyatos)

"Yes . I killed the Taggle Brothers and the merchant of the targeted Tsuchikado company . " (Yui)

"…Hmm . Elisha, what do you think?" (Hyatos)

What? Hyatos turns his eyes towards behind me .

I look over my shoulder .

A masked woman in black clothes appeared from the shadows, swaying like a haze .

"Yes . She finished off the guarding lycans in a flash without allowing them to transform . As expected of Zamalia's notorious assassin…she also killed the president of the Tsuchikado company without a doubt, but…even after having been spotted by his family, she left without killing them . Thinking that it might be a grave mistake, I patched up things properly . " (Elisha)

What!? That means she killed those children!?

I glare at the woman called Elisha .

"Oh my! What's with that look of yours? Even though I followed up on your blunder…" (Elisha)

"I see…that means your skills haven't dulled . Yui, why did you turn a blind eye at them?" (Hyatos)

I look back at Hyatos .

He's staring at me sternly with his eyes squinting .

I should have been more careful…as there's no way that he would loosen his monitoring .

…As thought, I disqualify as professional killer .

I guess I will honestly fess up now and here .

"…It's because I didn't want to kill them . " (Yui)

Upon my words, Hyatos's fox eyes widen in surprise .

"That I would hear those words from you…" (Hyatos)

"Hyatos-sama, what shall we do?" (Elisha)

Elisha asked with a trace of killing intent in her voice .

"She ignored the family, but she finished her job, right?" (Hyatos)

"Yes . " (Elisha)

She nods .

"Then let's pretend it didn't happen this time . " (Hyatos)

"…Yes, milord!" (Elisha)

She answers with dissatisfaction while looking at me .

I can't properly see her eyes due to the mask, but she must be glaring .

It looks like Hyatos is going to forgive me .

But…I can't feel safe .

His eyes are cold and piercing, and he's clenching his teeth . If I make another mistake, he might make us suffer with his authority .

I have to get back to Dad as soon as possible .

"…Excuse me then . " (Yui)

"Yeah . Make sure to come back here later since I'm going to hand you new instructions…" (Hyatos)

"Yes, milord . " (Yui)

I leave at once, exit the mansion and return home .

"Dad, I'm home . " (Yui)

"Welcome back, Yui . "

It's Dad . He came to welcome me on his own feet .

He's still as skinny as before, but it's Dad .

"――Daddy!" (Yui)

"Haha, hey, calm down a bit…you're going to break my chest . "

"Ah! Sorry . " (Yui)

I immediately separated from him .

"It looks like you can stand by yourself already . " (Yui)

"Yeah, as you can see my muscles have degenerated, so standing is the most I can do at the moment, I guess . "

"But, I'm happy . You survived . " (Yui)

"That's true . However, there's something important I have to tell you . "

Dad looked sad .

"What? However, you should still rest some more to get better . " (Yui)

"No, I can't burden my daughter any longer . …I thought about it all the time yesterday, but I plan to discard my name as noble soon . And, I intend to try speaking with Hyatos-sama about leaving you alone . "

"Eh!? That's in vain . It's impossible that he will agree…I mean, even today he looked at me with his piercing fox eyes and…" (Yui)

Although it's still far off from his past self, Dad dons a stern expression when I start to get evasive .

"Did something happen!?"

"No, it's not like that, but…I failed my assassination order, was entrusted with a job to prove myself again, and finished it safely, but as it seems that I still haven't regained his trust, he looked at me harshly . " (Yui)

"…Yui, pack your things at once…"

Dad instructed me with a hoarse voice while his expression became gloomy, obviously becoming white as a sheet, even though he's already pale .

"Eh? Why?" (Yui)

"No matter how excellent and talented a person, there's no way for Hyatos-sama to forgive someone who made a mistake…"

"But, at today's mission report Hyatos clearly said that he will regard it as inconsequential . " (Yui)

"He said that to put you off guard . Besides, if he realizes that I recovered, he will like come to kill us . "

What's the best thing to do…for Dad…?

Shuuya…what should I do?

"…Such a…but, where are we headed? This area is like his backyard . Besides, Dad, you can't really move with that body of yours, can you?" (Yui)

"…I thought about gaining a little bit more time, but I was a fool…I will remain here . You are to get out of the capital, using the coach in the back, and head to the Forlen Bay . There should be a hiding place in the copse located inside the bay that full of shipwrecks . "

"No way . What are you talking about? Just when you finally recovered, Dad!" (Yui)

"Yui . It's okay . It's fine for the bloodstained history of the Frogman family to come to an end . You're an assassin, but you have a beautiful face resembling that of your mother in her youth . I don't think that there are many men who can outdo you, but if you find one…you must not let him get away . "

Dad is about to leave the room to try breaking through the urgent situation .

I stop him by grabbing his arm .

His body is as light as if it's a lie…and his legs are tottering a bit .

It's still impossible for Dad…

"…I won't allow you to do as you please . The person, who scolded me in the past, wouldn't have said such fainthearted things . We will head to the Forlen Bay together . You understand?" (Yui)

"But…"

"Stop the annoying bickering! We will take the remaining medicine and ride the coach together . " (Yui)

"…Hahaha . "

Suddenly Dad widens his eyes and laughs .

"What!" (Yui)

"Nah, just that Stop the annoying bickering was just like before…I guess we are birds of the same feather after all . "

"That's only natural, no? Now, help me with the preparations . " (Yui)

"…No helping it, I guess I have to follow my daughter's instructions . "

I put plenty of recovery potions which I bought against Dad's sickness inside two knapsacks .

There are food supplies at the hiding place, but I still load some onto the coach, just for caution's sake . I had Dad get on as well .

The horses' condition looks fine, so they will be able to gallop for quite a while .

"―Dad, are you ready?" (Yui)

I turn around to the back after getting onto the driver's seat .

"Yeah, I still don't feel any presences around the house . Depart when the moon is hidden by clouds . I leave the the timing to you . "

"Ok . " (Yui)

And then, the instant the moon got covered by a big cloud ― I moved the coach .

We rush out from behind the mansion in one go, coming out on the street .

Leaving towards the eastern highway, I head towards the eastern gate .

Since it's very late at night, there are few people out on the streets, allowing us to smoothly pass through the gate .

"Dad, we safely got through the eastern gate!" (Yui)

"Okay, there are no presences following us from behind either . Keep going at it with full speed . And don't worry about the horses . "

"I know――!" (Yui)

After that, I move the coach straight east for a day and night with breaks while keeping the coastline at my left .

After a while we arrived at our hiding place in the Forlen Bay that's referred to as ship graveyard .

Fortunately no pursuers seem to follow us .

For one, for two, and then for five days no one approached our refuge inside the copse of trees .

Dad drinks his medicine, eats food that included medicinal plants, and does muscle training, gradually recovering his healthy body .

He recovered up to the point that he can grasp a weapon and do practice swings after a long time .

And, since his skill in sensing presences has become sharper while I was not there, I left the task to Dad .

I kill the monsters spawning in the vicinity .

Occasionally there are monsters who come to the sandy beach from the ship graveyard .

Even now I was squaring off against a monster on the sandy beach .

It's a monster called Rayuna, apparently a unification of human and fish, with four, dark red eyeballs .

The long, sharp claws growing on its five fingers are its main weapon .

It's skillfully handling its expendable claws…what a troublesome opponent .

It extended two claw swords from among its five fingers, and was on the verge of leaping at me again .

―But, I pruned the extended claws with <Double Shadow> after a <Dark Blade> with Azelos & Versage . Before it can extend its claws again, I kick the sand with Magic Combat Step, rotate and cut the Rayuna's torso in a straight line with <Dancing Slash> .

With this, it's the tenth .

I don't expect any other Rayuna to come here for the moment .

I saw them turn around to the shallows and then run away, withdrawing to their dwelling in the ship graveyard .

Defeating such monsters has become a daily task . After talking with Dad about the escape routes around here, I planted traps and the peaceful days continued for seven days while I felt as if light green evil discouragingly spread from the tree stumps…and then, on the next day…

At lunch Dad, who had practiced, suddenly entered the hut with a pale face .

"A great number of pursuers has come . It seems Hyatos-sama has found this place . . "

"Eh!? Even though there was supposedly no presence that clung to us . " (Yui)

"There are probably many fellows who have learned a <Hide> that exceeds my presence search . I guess he had an expert follow us . "

"We have to escape! Besides――" (Yui)

At the moment I tried to head outside, a black clothed woman holding a drawn blade stormed into the room while throwing an earthenware jar on the ground, causing it to burst loudly .

I was too late…

"Pathetic, former assassin and her father, who has been allowed to stay a live as a warning . "

It's a woman wearing a white mask .

She was called Elisha by Hyatos .

"I won't let you guys do as you please!" (Yui)

"Humph, your assassin skills are fairly good, but why had you been Hyatos-sama's favorite despite being unable to sense the difference in numbers? Well, I guess you offered him your seedy-looking body like a prostitute . From now on I will become Hyatos-sama's favorite by using my own abilities . In the end, you're just a stupid woman that can only use katana, that means――" (Elisha)

The woman, spitting vulgar words, handles her katana, which was clad in a black light, like a leaf that's shaken by the wind . She unleashes a sword thrust towards my breast .

While quickly warding off her frontal thrust with Versage's blade, causing the peculiar metallic sound characteristic to sword clashing, I move sideways .

"Tsk, eat this . " (Elisha)

The woman clicks her tongue and moves to the back of the small hut in order to cover her flanks .

"Elisha, did you forget what you had been told by Hyatos-sama?"

"Saizol…I know . " (Elisha)

After holding a conversation with the comrade behind her, I saw how she glanced at me with her blue eyes below the mask…and then retreated outside the hut .

"Dad, it looks like we've been completely surrounded . " (Yui)

"Yeah, I guess we have no choice but to face them . …I'm still not at peak condition, but even I have techniques that I acquired on various battlefields . I'm the man called Shadow Ogre Kaldo in 【Anbu's Right Hand】 . ―Yui, we will cut our way through together!" (Kaldo)

Dad powerfully swings the longsword in his hands .

It's still not at the level of his past self, but his slash is plenty sharp .

I recall the days when I trained under him .

"Ok . The escape route we confirmed the other day is fine?" (Yui)

"Yeah, we travel along the sandy beach and then take a boat at the southern Ruja Village . " (Kaldo)

"Aight . " (Yui)

I escape our hiding place with Dad through a hidden door in the back .

We plunged into the grove of trees while scattering mineral dust .

But, one black clothed pursuer after the other shows up between the trees .

We can't get away .

"Ugh――"

I bring down one with a sharp upward slash of Azelos .

"Don't give up!"

Dad's throwing knife killed a guy that assaulted me with his sword from the opposite side by hitting him in the forehead with <Throw> .

While straightforwardly closing the distance to a spear holder, who closes in on father to stab him from behind, with Magic Combat Step, I imagine Shuuya's spear thrust, and unleash a sword thrust with Versage .

I finished off the spear holder by stabbing through his heart .

"Nice move . " (Kaldo)

"Same to you, Dad . " (Yui)

At first it went well, but the black clothed attackers gather around us successively, obviously surrounding us .

Besides, it bothers me that that woman, Elisha, still hasn't shown up .

"Oh my, oh my, the soldiers…even if you ran away, your sword skills are top notch after all, I guess . But, your slashes have grown dull . You aren't able to conceal your fatigue . "

This voice…so Elisha has come, huh?

"Shut up! Are you all talk? Aren't you going to attack?" (Yui)

I responded to Elisha angrily .

"Just wait…I will kill you after humiliating you so much that this cheeky mouth of yours will beg for mercy . " (Elisha)

"Elisha, do your job instead of prattling silly things . "

"Yeah, yeah . " (Elisha)

A masked group appeared alongside Elisha .

Skilled assassins, huh?

The masked man is a lancer…

Shuuya… I want to see you…

"Yui! Don't space out . "

Alongside Dad's stern voice, we split to the left and right .

Moving flexibly like in his heydays, Dad parries the sharp thrust of the lancer while dodging Elisha's sword .

"The final moment's of the White-Eyed Death God are mine!"

A masked man holding two swords slashed at me while shouting something like that . He performs a rotational slash with a skill similar to Dancing Slash .

―Extending both, Azelos & Versage, to the front in alternation, I block the continuous, rotational blade attacks .

Once I blocked all of them, I immediately activate <Dancing Slash> .

While revolving like a spinning top, I launch double katana attacks with Azelos and Versage at the masked guy .

Just like me, he blocked the continuous attacks, but the difference of our blades became apparent at this point . At the moment his blades broke after being chipped by my sword attacks, I succeed at cutting his throat .

A single skilled fighter went down, but Dad's leg is wounded, and he's about to suffer another strike .

"――Dad!" (Yui)

I immediately run up next to Dad, and block Elisha's thrust, which could have become a fatal blow, by knocking it away with Versage .

"Tsk, again?" (Elisha)

Elisha seems unable to stomach that I could defend against her thrust . While clicking her tongue once more, she fixes her sword stance .

Meanwhile the number of masked leader-class fighters increased by one and then two .

Dad and I confront the surrounding enemies while standing back to back .

Our opponents slowly narrow the encirclement .

"Yui, I'm happy . After all I'm able to fight back-to-back with you like this . " (Kaldo)

Dad tries to encourage me from behind even while we are in this precarious situation .

"Dad…" (Yui)

I say Dad, but I, Shuuya…help…where are you!? I fruitlessly screamed towards Shuuya in my mind .

"It's as Hyatos-sama said…your abilities…eyes like a death god . What annoying eyes, they are…your movements have become sharp . " (Elisha)

Elisha says while looking at my <Eyes of Baycala> .

Right after that ― it's very faint, no, familiar, unforgettable, red border lines appeared inside the forest .

Eh!?