340 - The Walt Family is the Strongest
The katanas in both hands glitter.
Blue light creates trails in the slashes, and blue sparks fly as they clash with Novem's great scythe. Both increase their speed, and in Novem, who has become more desperate than before, I can see impatience—and an expression of anger.
As Novem swings the great scythe horizontally, I slip underneath it and swing the katanas in both hands in a cross, from the inside out. I pass by Novem as if rolling across the ground, then immediately stand up and ready my dual blades again.
I put on a smile and bluff.
"Hasn't your speed dropped since before? Also, this is just a personal opinion... but I prefer skirts to be shorter."
Novem was currently wearing a skirt that reached her ankles. As Novem turned toward me, the skirt fluttered open. However, she didn't show the good parts. It closed quietly at the very last moment.
"...Should you not seek that from the other women who will become your wives?"
I step forward.
"Sorry about that. I've prepared a seat for you too. But don't worry... even if you aren't in love with me, I'll make you fall for me in no time!"
Remember. Remember. Remember yourself when you were high-tension. Remember that feeling when you thought you could do anything!
Yes, I continued to mutter in my heart. If I became even slightly timid, I felt like I would crumble. Attack, attack, keep attacking. In order to make my voice reach Novem.
Not as an Evil God. Not as a Goddess. In order to reach Novem!
I parry Novem's strike with the wakizashi and pierce Novem's heart with the katana. Blood does not spray out. Seeing this, Novem's expression twists.
"How long will you continue with such selfishness!"
"Idiot! Everyone in the Walt family through the generations—hasn't always been selfish!"
I step in further, entering her personal space so she cannot swing the great scythe, and this time I stab Novem with the wakizashi.
"I volunteered for the pioneer group because I wanted my first love to look my way!"
I forcibly swing the two embedded blades sideways, and Novem is pushed away.
"I couldn't be honest, so I rebelled against my parents for a long time!"
I approach Novem to prevent her from gaining distance, and I use an illusion to shift the strike of the great scythe. Perhaps she is quite panicked, as she is looking at the phantom.
"I was pissed off, so I punched out royalty—"
I align the two blades and slash Novem horizontally.
"—and because I love money, I worked hard on internal affairs!"
As Novem raises her left hand, I throw the katana and wakizashi in opposite directions. When Novem fires magic at me, I first recover the wakizashi and slash at Novem. When it is blocked, I immediately warp to recover the katana and slash at Novem.
It is shallow, but I graze Novem's flank.
"I loved animals more than children!"
I continue to slash at Novem in succession. Holding the dual blades in a reverse grip, I rotate, kick away the great scythe, and slash repeatedly. It doesn't matter if they are shallow. I just keep slashing.
"I hated my parents and ran away from home!"
Novem gritted her teeth. I create four phantoms and slash at Novem from four directions. I warp above her head and swing the blade down while rotating.
"Even though I knew it was impossible, I tried to prove that guns are amazing!"
I'll say it clearly—my clan is selfish.
Novem pointed her left hand toward me while looking at me. From there, several small fireballs emerged. Thousands, tens of thousands are fired.
I slash the fireballs while distancing myself, and as I dodge—.
"There you go again, only focusing on the bad parts—"
"—and you've continued to beautify things and ignore the bad parts! Don't act like a mother when you only look at what you want to see!"
Wind wraps around the katana, blowing away the fireballs. The airborne fireballs fall to the ground and explode. As Novem raises her left hand, purple lightning generates. Watching the purple lightning gradually grow, I stab the wakizashi into the ground and charge.
The lightning generated by Novem gathers in the wakizashi, and I slash Novem with all my might as I pass her.
I immediately turn around and slash her back, and since Novem raised the great scythe, I warp toward the wakizashi. Recovering it and gripping the dual blades, I take a deep breath.
Novem was also breathing heavily, looking down. Her hair was disheveled, and through the gaps in her hanging hair, she glared at me with purple eyes.
"—I—even so, I! —for the sake of the future."
I take a deep breath and then shout. I shout from my heart.
"Destruction, or whatever happened in the past, who cares! I—I—am more afraid of today's and tomorrow's—shambles than some distant future!"
Something happened in the past.
That's why Novem and the others were born. I understood that.
But, if you'll let me say it—if we of the present can say it.
"The distant past and the distant future don't matter! If you ignore the important present, there will be no past or future! To you, is the present—is the present happy? Can you say with confidence that the present is the best? What... do you think of the present!"
Not the Novem who thinks of the future.
Nor the Novem bound by the past.
I wanted to know the feelings of the current Novem Foxus.
Novem readied the great scythe.
"Over and over... over and over... you're so noisy! My feelings... no one... who could possibly know! Who could understand! Because I know that no one can understand! That's why I—!!"
A single tear flowed. Seeing that, I laugh. She's been worn down. The Evil God and Goddess have been stripped away, and Novem's original feelings have surfaced.
"Look, the mask has slipped! That's it, more! Expose yourself more! Expose everything before me! Then... I'll accept it all!"
As I point the tip of the katana, Novem takes a large step forward. The rubble where Novem stood is blown away, and she approaches rapidly.
"As if I could accept it all!"
I immediately swing the katana, and as we pass each other, the katana passes through Novem's body.
—Facing a metallic Land Dragon protected by metal scales, Aria was breathing heavily.
Her red hair was disheveled, and sweat was dripping down. The spear she held was also battered. Facing a Land Dragon protected by hard scales, Aria had a poor compatibility.
"Honestly... I want to go help Lariel. I really am lacking in power."
Whether she wanted to cry or laugh.
Aria didn't know her own feelings either. Clara raised her staff and directed a strong light at the Land Dragon. While its vision was stolen, Eva fired an arrow.
The arrow that pierced the gap in the Land Dragon's scales exploded, but the Land Dragon didn't budge.
From the sky, Monica and the Valkyries were landing attacks, but they were only managing to restrict its movement. It was just as expected, since Novem had prepared a monster with poor compatibility for the purpose of buying time.
From the sky, Monica clicked her tongue.
"It's so persistent!"
As hundreds of lines of light rained down on the Land Dragon, the Land Dragon curled up and endured. Its surface turned red from the heat, but it was immediately cooled and returned to its original color.
Aria steadied her breathing and gripped the shaft firmly. With her left hand, she squeezed a red orb.
"How many more times—no, no matter how many times, a full-power strike."
Her body felt like it was about to scream. Due to the excessive use of skills, the burden was becoming great. The burden from continuous use at short intervals was weighing heavily on Aria.
Even stepping forward felt like a chore.
Then, a hand touched Aria's back. The sensation of four right hands—. Along with a red light, gentle voices enveloped Aria.
'Do your best.'
'Show them the power of Rockwood.'
'—We've been watching you work hard.'
And finally, in a voice similar to Aria's.
'The descendant of that person and Aria, the descendant of mine, have met. Surely, this is fate. We will also give you strength—the strength to take one more step.'
As the red orb's glow intensified, the feeling of fatigue was blown away from Aria's body. Then, explosive power generated from within.
A red light dwells in the spear she holds. A little more—. A little more—.
"!"
However, the Land Dragon, sensing danger, charged at Aria. It seemed intent on crushing Aria as a priority.
"Aria!"
Eva fired an arrow toward the Land Dragon's eye, and it hit. However, the Land Dragon felt an even greater sense of crisis regarding Aria and charged toward her.
Even as Monica and the others attacked from the sky, it didn't flinch in the least. Monica, who focused on optical weapons, shouted from the sky.
"Physical ammunition would have been better!"
As Clara looked around, she saw the cargo bed of a Porter buried in rubble.
"Porter, please."
The cargo bed blew away the rubble and accelerated suddenly. As it charged into the Land Dragon's flank, the Land Dragon crushed it with a giant front leg.
Then, the two small, round eyes of the Porter, which were merely decorations attached to its round cylindrical head, both glowed.
Its face lifted, and the magic ore embedded in its chest emitted a strong light. A wind whipped up, and the Porter's upper body charged at the Land Dragon. Then, after pushing it back significantly, it caused an explosion. The large explosion sent rubble flying and made everyone feel the shockwave. Enduring it, Clara was stunned.
"No way. I didn't perform such an operation—"
Monica also, from above.
"I didn't have such a function either—a rampage? Did I overdo the modifications too much?"
From the smoke, the battered Land Dragon took one step with a large front leg. Then, dragging its battered body, it took a second step.
The Land Dragon opened its mouth and spat blood. However, it still continued to move forward.
Then, Aria opened her eyes wide. A red light dwelt in her purple eyes, and she felt as if her back had been pushed.
'—Show them. And do not be humble. For you are a proud daughter of Rockwood.'
The place where Aria, enveloped in red light, dashed through was filled with flying rubble. She soared up to the sky, and then high into the air. The Land Dragon could not keep up with Aria's speed and lifted its head to look at the sky as if chasing her.
Then, a red light flashed.
The Land Dragon was cleanly cleaved in two and slowly split in half.
The one who stood up from the split part was Aria. Carrying the spear on her shoulder and clad in red light, she spoke to everyone.
"Let's go. I won't be satisfied until I give that idiot Novem a good smack."
In Aria's line of sight was the figure of Lariel fighting Novem.
Monica descended to the ground and picked up the distorted head of the Porter that was rolling around. Clara also rushed to Monica's side.
Eva said to the two of them.
"We're going ahead."
She headed toward Lariel first along with Aria. The Valkyries also chased after the two. However, everyone's gaze was fixed on the Porter.
Monica hugged the Porter's head.
"—I shouldn't just dismiss it as a rampage. You were a wonderful comrade to us, Porter."
Clara also offered a silent prayer to her long-time partner—.
—In front of the former main gate of Central, the army led by the Eighth Head, Meizel, scattered the skeleton soldiers and entered Central.
The Eighth Head watched the battle in the center of Central.
"Are we late? But it's not over yet."
Beside him, his wife Claire nodded.
"Yes, it's not over yet. We must properly apologize to Lariel."
Because there were many enemy forces in front, Meizel and the others were the last. Around them were the Lion Warrior and Maxim clad in sand armor.
The Lion Warrior strode over the former city walls, hurrying forward. On his shoulders were Miranda, Shannon, and Mireia.
Mireia, seeing multiple conflicts happening in the distance, said to Miranda.
"We're going toward where the golden dragon is."
Shannon looked up at Mireia.
"Eh? What about Lariel?"
Mireia lightly shrugged her shoulders.
"Let's give him a little more time. It seems Lariel has gotten over a few things. More importantly, there's someone I want to make a move against. Shannon... you'll help me, right?"
At Mireia's smile that left no room for refusal, Shannon nodded repeatedly.
Miranda, seeing the golden dragon in a battered state, said.
"That side looks like it's about to end too?"
Then, Mireia said.
"That's why. I want to interfere a little."
Mireia grinned—.
—Though they were the ones fighting the Legend Dragon, in the end, the seven successive heads attacked together.
The First Generation swung a greatsword.
"You coward! Coming out now of all times!"
The Third Head, extending the Blade-less Sword and inflicting a deep wound on the Legend Dragon, was laughing.
"Hmm? What are you talking about? Well~, if things keep going like this, I'll be the one to deliver the finishing blow based on the timing. My, I'll stand out too much~. I guess it's decided that I'm the strongest of the generations~. Well, I was the one who remained in the orb until the end, so it's only natural!"
As the Legend Dragon opened its mouth, the Third Head first shrunk the Blade-less Sword inside the mouth, then thrust it forward, and the blade extended, piercing deep into the mouth.
The Sixth Generation, who had finally returned to dragon hunting after pushing aside the previous Fanbayle, shouted at the Legend Dragon.
"E-Endure it! Endure it, Dragon! Just bite down and crush the blade!"
The Fifth Head, looking at the Third Head, said.
"That bastard is purely strong. His swordsmanship alone is quite something. You shouldn't give a weapon like that to a guy like him!"
The Second Generation, readying a bow, said.
"That's because you always do things so efficiently!!"
The Fourth Generation, looking frustrated, said.
"However, taking any more time is—"
The Seventh Head was trying to point the muzzle of his gun at the Third Head.
"Let go, Zel! I'll shoot him down right here!"
"You can't, Lord Broad!"
The Third Head retracted the blade in mid-air and twisted his body. Then, he tried to slash down by adding centrifugal force to the blade extended toward the neck.
"Ahahaha, sorry! —What!"
However, an impact was added to the blade midway, and the Third Head, losing his balance, was driven into the ground, failing to finish off the Legend Dragon.
What the Third Head saw upon landing was the Lion Warrior's golem. On its shoulder was Mireia, handing a single-shot gun to Shannon. Moreover, she was grinning.
"That woman!! She held a grudge for me teasing her!"
Even the gentle Third Head was furious at being hindered from obtaining the title of Dragon Slayer. Then, the Sixth Generation saw Mireia.
To the Sixth Generation, it looked as if Shannon had fired the gun.
"Did she miss? But, well done! Mireia, you made it in time too!"
Mireia waved her hand with a smile to the Sixth Generation. However, when she looked at the Third Head, she gave him a vulgar smile.
She mouthed the words 'S-e-r-v-e-s you' to the Third Head.
The Legend Dragon opened its huge mouth, squeezing out its last strength. However, one more female powerhouse who soared up—the wife of the First Generation—gripped a naginata in both hands and severed the Legend Dragon's head with a full-power strike.
Then, the wife of the First Generation, landing on the ground, stabbed the naginata into the earth.
"Honestly, how long are you going to keep this up! Look, it's already over, so let's eat. Also, I'll call the young ones who are still fighting over there, so you all come along. And make sure to carve up this dragon properly! Bleed it out too."
The barbarian-like men around them all said at once.
"Yes, Boss!"
They all bowed their heads in unison. The successive heads, who had their glory stolen, reluctantly followed behind the First Generation's wife.
"Grandma, I'm coming too!"
"Alright, come with Grandma. Honestly, how long are they going to keep flirting. I'll work them to the bone preparing the banquet. Maybe I'll tease them while I'm at it."
"Yeah! Grandma really is amazing!"
"Of course. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to serve as a bride of the Walt family. ...Now, watch your step. There's a lot of rubble."
Rather than just a lot of rubble, they were on a mountain of rubble.
The wife of the First Generation and Dewey were holding hands. Although the wife of the First Generation had a foul mouth, her expression was gentle.
And following the wife of the First Generation, who said Lariel and the others were flirting, the successive heads and their wives followed.
The First Generation, with his shoulders slumped, said.
"What gives. You could have let me have the end."
The Second Generation placed a hand on the First Generation's shoulder.
"Come on, let's go. Once we bring Lariel, it's straight to the banquet."
The First Generation put his arm around the Second Generation's shoulder.
"Nice, a banquet! Let's get wild with dragon meat! ...But that dragon's meat looks like it would taste bad."
Father and son laughing together.
And the Third Head, seeing that, was walking with the Fourth and Fifth Generations.
"My plan..."
"I was genuinely repulsed by that. Please reflect on yourself."
"I also think that was too much. Reflect on yourself."
The wives of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Generations walked behind them. They didn't interfere with their husbands' conversation. Only the Fourth Generation's wife was holding a beautiful scale and appraising its value.
The Sixth and Seventh Generations were frightened by the wives following behind them.
"Why am I the only one with such a strained relationship..."
"You brought it on yourself. It's hard enough with one, but you're the one who married three."
Then, Zenoa closed her folding fan with a snap. Smiling, she intimidated the Seventh Head.
"Dear?"
"I'm lying! I'm happy to have married the best wife!"
The Sixth Generation grinned while looking at the Seventh Generation. Then, he joined Mireia, who had descended from the Lion Warrior.
"Brother, I shall accompany you as well."
"Oh, come! You're probably curious about Lariel and Novem too."
Then, the previous Fanbayle king, in a battered state, rushed toward the Sixth Generation.
"You damn old man! What do you mean my grandson is a concubine to your great-grandson!"
The Sixth Generation ran away laughing, and Mireia chased after him. And the previous King Fanbayle. The Seventh Head looked at the three of them with an exasperated expression.
"...Honestly, what a noisy bunch."
That's what he said—.
—Ludmila and the others, who had been left behind.
Eliza was troubled as she looked around. Around them, the butchering of the Legend Dragon had begun.
"Hey, how should we carve it?"
"We should eat the internal organs first."
"Bring the booze. Booze! Several barrels! It's gotta be somewhere. If the army is here, it's definitely here."
Glacia was also wondering what to do. Then, Miranda deactivated the golem and landed on the ground.
Shannon said to everyone.
"What are you doing? Let's go quickly. They said the banquet won't start until this is finished."
Eliza started walking after being told so by her friend Shannon.
"Y-Yeah. I don't know if a banquet is appropriate. Well, we can't just leave Lariel and the others."
Glacia also, with a sigh.
"Fine, I'll stick with this until the end. Bring it on!"
Miranda looked exasperated with a disgusted face. Brushing her hair behind her ear, she started walking.
"I've really had enough of this. Besides, I'll be irritated if I don't clear a few things up. I have to give Novem a good punch too."
Ludmila, holding the longsword she had sheathed in her left hand, looked at the group ahead—.
"...The Walt family is way too far gone. Rather than the strongest—they're the craziest."