kscans

Chapter 235 - The Sword That Wishes, The Sword That Hopes, The One Awaited is Here, Part Six

"No, seriously…! I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart, but—I don't give a damn!"

Strong people have their struggles—perhaps I'm just biased by my recent close associations with my master and Irori.

But I'm not an idiot. I can at least tell that she's carrying 'something' heavy as well.

But—don't give me that. What kind of face is that to make?

I've been shifting up gear after gear, after gear, after gear—fighting desperately from the very beginning until this very moment.

And just when I finally felt like my fingers had grazed her toes—for her to get that faraway look in her eyes and make that face… I can't take it!

"Hey, Princess, what's with that face—don't cry, smile, I said!"

"—"

And don't look like you've been abandoned, either. What do you think all my desperate charges have been for?

"I'm not running away, so smile!"

"…!"

"I'm not giving up, so smile!"

"…, …!"

"—I had a blast! What about you, dammit!"

—Ah, okay.

That smile… that's all I ever wanted to see.

"…………A little over thirty seconds left."

"—…Yeah."

After clashing with this much emotion, I think we can call ourselves friends—so, as a final friendly gesture, here's a special service.

"This is the finale—enjoy it to the fullest, Iris."

[Blink Switch]—[An-ri Galta (Prologue: The Wedge-Fragment that Sings of Eternity)].

"—Manifestation, release."

Key phrase authenticated. From within the shattered iron mass, a withered, ancient sword reveals itself.

"I'll overturn it—[Angalta, God-Wedge Spirit Sword]."

From the white scars carved into it, gold overflows—forming a giant sword of light.

[Exchange Voltate] activated. The count isn't at its max, but I'll swallow my complaints.

Gold and pale white light meld together, emitting a white-gold brilliance that once drew a meteor across the sky.

Even without relying on the momentum of a fall, the current me, who can replicate the [Sword Saint]'s techniques, can wield this—so then… bring it out, that thing.

"……………Hey, 'Haru'."

"…Yeah."

"That was fun."

"Yeah."

"Thank you."

"Hah, don't mention it."

Seriously, we're out of time… I can listen to your words later—

"So you too… have even more fun."

—I'm at a loss. Really… when she smiles, she's breathtakingly beautiful.

"—Sword Manifestation, release."

It was a key phrase with the same sound as a Terror Armament, but her 'sword' was not of the same kind.

"—'In the name of the Sword Queen, I now reveal my divine might.'"

A short, three-verse chant.

And yet, the 'magic' that her 'sword' brings forth—surpasses all other 'powers' that exist in this world.

I know it, the true name of that 'sword.'

I laughed when I first saw it, but now, seeing you hold it in person…

"—That's so cool. I'm jealous."

"—I think yours is wonderful, too."

We both smiled—and stepped forward at the same time.

Ah, this feels so unreal. That I would be the one to challenge that 'name' head-on.

As we both closed the distance at a strangely slow pace compared to before… I looked at the 'sword' gripped in the hands of the approaching girl, a sword that held a silver brilliance.

Now—prepare yourself, me. What you're about to cross blades with is, in every sense of the word, the world itself.

Don't get vaporized in an instant—fight like your life depends on it, you bastard!

Five steps left—I raise my sword and swing it back.

Four steps left—it's too late for resolve, so I won't look away.

Three steps left—hey, dumbass, this is no time to be mesmerized by her smile.

Two steps,

One step,

Now—let's have some fun!

An overhead swing, brought down from a high stance.

Following the trajectory I had decided on from the start, with the unified output of 'Inner' and 'Outer,' I unleashed my all-out, final blow—

And the girl, who simply, simply stared straight at me—her smiling face streaked with tears, her mouth,

—Before the world, she chanted its name.

"Weave the world—[Arcadia, Ideal Land Embracing the Old Moon]!"