Katahane no Riku

Chapter 28.Losing the grip

Charlotte picked up the sword that was lying at the floor next to her.

Its tip was rusty, but it wasn′t to the point of being something to be concerned about. While lightly swinging the sword a few times, she exchanged glances with the boy. The reason Charlotte took that sword was a extremely simple one. She was planning to defeat the boy in front of her eyes at once and get away from that city, and maybe along the way, she would throw away the rusted sword and get a new one. Seeing Charlotte getting in position to fight without any hesitations, the silver haired boy… Rook Barusak became confused and made a clatter.

“Eh, wait a second? What is all this!?”

“There is nothing to be inquired. It′s impossible to save the world with your childish ideals. If it is for me to go do that, then rather than doing this together with you, unsealing onii-sama is a much closer path to peace!”

Charlotte′s sword was pointing directly next to Rook′s throat. He hesitantly moved his hand as if to put it over the sword, but if he were to resist with the sword only a few centimeters away from his neck, he would get his head removed.

“What is it? Why don′t you try to take my sword away? Are you planning on dying?”

While saying that, she swung the rusty sword. While dodging the sword blow in his most earnest, he was desperately thinking.

In Rook′s memories, there were no descriptions of an earthquake happening. For the event to fail and Charlotte go attack him, it was only later on. However, even though he should have said the same words that were said in the game, Charlotte still went and attacked him. Because in the instant he drew his sword against Charlotte it would be the end of her route, he didn′t use it. Unfortunately, Rook became unable to think on what he should do next.

“That′s because there is no way I can point my sword to you!”

He didn′t have the sadism to raise his hand against his beloved game character. Although she wasn′t his favorite character, she still was among his first five favorite ones. Even before in the game, he didn′t like to make the choices that would hurt her. While holding his feet from Charlotte′s attacks, Rook was becoming desperate and tried to think on what he should do.

“What′s the matter, brat? Won′t you fight back?”

“That′s… Because I don′t want to hur…”

“You don′t want to hurt me? Hmph, I have no interest in your childish ideals! Me and my onii-sama spent our life leading the Demon Lord army for these ideals too!! It′s not some greenhorn brat that can be babbling about ideals!”

Together with these words, the strength of the swings were increasing. In Rook′s forehead, sweat was flowing like a waterfall. No matter what, he wasn′t able to go back to the saint-like himself. More than that, in this state, wasn′t it already impossible to avoid the bad end? Only bad thoughts were going through his mind.

“You are losing your grip! You are full of openings, you brat full of immature ideals!”

Charlotte′s attack grazed Rook′s cheek. The sharp pain was felt at his cheek. Avoiding the next attack by a hair′s breadth, Rook raised his voice.

“Whether it is childish or not, you won′t know if you don′t try!”

The voice full of sorrow resounded throughout the cell room.

Hearing these words, Charlotte gave a bold smile.

“I can already know it even if I don′t try, brat.”

Charlotte hit the handle of the sword at Rook′s stomach with all her strength. Without being able to defend himself, all the air left his lungs in one go. Because of all the pain, Rook crouched down while holding his belly. Charlotte didn′t let that gap go by. After raising her sword, she swung it only to stop it next to his neck. While pondering about something, she looked at the groaning Rook. And then, after deciding something, she put the sword in her scabbard.*1

“…Experience the world more, brat. After that, I will hear your answer. After seeing how this world is, whether you will still be able to spill those naive ideals, I will be looking forward to it. That′s is if by that time… You aren′t dead already.”

Saying those words that were accompanied with a wry smile, she quietly left the place. Rook kept motionless for some time. Rather than because of the pain, it was because he was surprised by Charlotte′s words.

“…What is this?”

In the game, if he were to fail at this scene, he would have been killed.

But even though he should have failed, Charlotte left him alive.

Is this Charlotte′s love for me?

Is this Charlotte pitying me?

Was that something she did only on a whim?

“Really, I don′t know anymore!”

While holding his belly, he unsteadily left the vault. Even though it was the residence of the lord, Rook transformed it into a place full of spiritualists. It was as if just by walking a few steps, it was enough to encounter a spiritualist. In such place, there was no way Charlotte would be able to escape safely with her dragon horns.

“Please return safely, Charlotte-chan.”

“What′s the matter, Rook?”

The one that reacted to his murmurs was a girl who had a clump of hair bundled up right above her ear.*2 The owner of the voluptuous breasts that would make one unconsciously throw oneself onto them had both a very calming appearance and aura. But even so, she wasn′t someone that could be looked down upon by her appearances. That girl was the character that could be boasted of having the most fighting strength at the game, Cellia Buryuuser. Without giving any mercy to the demons, it was a force that was to the point of even being called [Buryuuser cannon]. Of course, except for that, it was only the usual quiet and gentle heroine.

“Cellia, say, did you see the demon that was here just a moment ago?”

“Demon?”

Her gentle eyelids raised a bit.

“Rook-kun is too kind. The demons are our enemies, you know?”

“But… She wasn′t a bad demon.”

“There is no such thing as being bad or good for demons. That′s right… I′ve just remembered something about demons. Actually, my excellent subordinates found an inn where demons were hiding.”

Cellia′s cheek blushed in happiness. It was as if she was a puppy waiting to be praised. But instead of doing that, it was like all blood left from Rook′s face.

“Ce-cellia? And then, what… What happened to those demons?”

“Of course I ordered them to kill them all. About this time, the inn at the west side should be already dyed in blood. Of course, in demon′s blood.”

With a bright smile, she dropped down hell onto Rook.

In the game, except for a single person, all of Charlotte′s escorts would have been killed. This single person was supposed to get in contact to the boss level demon Leivein Adlar that was at the garrison nearby and come to rescue Charlotte, or so Rook had the feeling this was how the story was supposed to develop. Unfortunately, he didn′t know in details on how this single demon was able to get to Leivein. Most likely, the demon that was at the inn had the chance of about eight or nine out of ten of being acquainted with Charlotte. No, even more than that, if the information that all the demons had been annihilated got into Charlotte′s ears, it would be a big problem.

Although just when he had just told her he wanted to cooperate with her for peace, with how this kind of thing ended up happening, Charlotte would have completely lost interest in his proposal.

“Ro-Rook-kun? What′s the matter? Pe-perhaps, Rook-kun also wanted to go kill some demons?”

“It′s not that though… Ahahahah.”

He was showing an empty smile on his face. Right now, all he could do nothing but smile.

Cellia was anxious on how Rook was acting. She was wondering if she had said something weird to him. Rushing over to the two of them, a spiritualist hurriedly came running.

“Re-reporting.”

Although it wasn′t a spiritualist Cellia directly had command over, he had the Buryuuser crest on his armor.

But the spiritualist was trembling badly. It was possible to see that there were a little blood on his armor. It felt like it was spilled blood from a demon, but even so, a bad feeling went through Cellia′s heart. But there was no way she could let the spiritualist there, and also Rook, know her inner worries. Cellia retained her usual gentle face.

“What′s the matter?”

While patting the shoulder of the hopeless Rook, she asked.

And with that, the spiritualist answered her while still trembling.

“Y-yes! Actually… It has been reported that the spiritualists that went to the inn were annihilated!”

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