"First, let's hear your business, oh Legendary Hero-dono of the Great Demonic Beast Subjugation." (Edward)
So said the Sword Hero-sama, raising his one-handed sword.
The Holy Sword, his trademark, remained sheathed on his back.
"I've come to see Airi… Her Imperial Majesty." (Eugene)
"I see. Then you should first submit a petition for an audience. You know the rules, don't you?" (Edward)
Of course I knew the procedures for an audience.
"So…when would I be able to see her?" (Eugene)
"Normally, it would be one to three months later. However, lately Her Majesty has been canceling audiences entirely. When they will resume is unknown." (Edward)
Edward-sama said it in a teasing tone.
"I see…" (Eugene)
In other words, there was no way to meet her through the official process.
"So, what will you do?" (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama made no effort to hide his fighting aura.
"I'm going to see Airi. Let me through." (Eugene)
I drew the White Sword and took my stance.
"Her Majesty has ordered that no one is to be let through." (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama, still holding his one-handed sword, let his whole body surge with Aura.
(He's…not using the Holy Sword?) (Eugene)
If he were using the Holy Sword, I would have to use the Black Katana…the Hellhound's Fang Sword of Cerberus…or else I wouldn't be able to withstand it.
But from the looks of it, the one-handed sword in his grip, though a fine blade, was an ordinary magic sword.
(Is he holding back…? No, it's probably because if he used the Holy Sword inside the palace, the aftershocks would destroy the building…) (Eugene)
The Holy Sword Colbrand's light slash was said to cut down a hundred monsters in a single stroke.
Even in a large audience chamber, it would be unusable… That was the conclusion I reached.
"Then, here I come!" (Edward)
Fast!!
An unbelievable speed for such a large body.
With a single step, he closed the distance at a speed comparable to Sky Walk, and a lightning-like overhead slash came crashing down before my eyes.
(Forest Form: [Willow Cat]
Twisting my body, I dodged his sword and countered.
"Nuh!"
The Sword Hero-sama didn't even try to avoid it, instead going for a counter aimed at a mutual hit.
(This is bad!) (Eugene)
In a mutual strike, he might lose an arm, but I would be incapacitated in a single blow.
——Barrier Magic: [Light Shield]!
Clank! Clank! Clank!
The triple-layered barrier shattered under the Sword Hero-sama's horizontal slash.
I barely managed to catch the oncoming strike with my sword, but the force didn't fade… My body was blown away.
I was thrown back about three meters, managing to land on my feet midair.
"Haaah!"
Naturally, he didn't let the opening go…his light-wreathed blade tip came at me with incredible speed.
My body was still in midair; he must have thought I couldn't dodge…
([Light Wings].) (Eugene)
I activated angel magic.
With a tap, I kicked off the air and evaded the Sword Hero-sama's thrust.
I ran through the air, putting distance between us.
That at least gave me a chance to reset the fight.
The Sword Hero-sama smiled as if amused despite having his attack avoided.
"That's not flight magic, is it? It's similar to the special ability of winged demons, but seems more maneuverable. What kind of magic is it?" (Edward)
"Just plain flight magic." (Eugene)
I lied.
Inside, though, I was sweating cold.
(It's not about whether he uses the Holy Sword or not… This man…) (Eugene)
President Robert was faster in terms of speed.
In terms of variety in sword techniques, Pops might be superior.
But the Sword Hero-sama had more momentum and power than either of them.
(So this is a Hero's swordsmanship…) (Eugene)
Tricks won't work.
"Fuuu…"
I took a deep breath.
——Twin Heavenly Resonance Style – Secret Technique…
I assumed the middle guard stance, the base form of the Imperial Army swordsmanship.
It was the stance most natural to my body.
"Good Sword Aura. You remind me of Jubei-dono." (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama took an aggressive high stance.
(The Sword Hero-sama often sparred with Pops. He knows the counters to the Twin Heavenly Resonance Style well.) (Eugene)
Pops never hid his sword techniques.
He even casually used secret techniques during training.
The Twin Heavenly Resonance Style's secret techniques were either Thunder Form: Fenrir, or Thunder Form: Kirin.
Neither would be new to the Sword Hero-sama.
Which means the next technique I should unleash is…
"I'm coming, Sword Hero-sama." (Eugene)
"Very well!" (Edward)
I sank my hips and kicked off the ground.
(Thunder Form…the Twin Hounds of Hades, Orthrus.) (Eugene)
"What!?" (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama's eyes widened.
To him, it must have appeared as if four slashes came at him from above, below, left, and right at the same time…like the two jaws of a twin-headed Divine Beast snapping shut.
By wrapping the blade in Destiny Magic's Time Delay, I could generate multiple slashes simultaneously with a single sword.
It was my own original secret technique, developed in the Zenith Tower.
"Kuh!"
Though it was without doubt his first time seeing it, the Sword Hero-sama blocked three of the strikes; the last one landed, cutting him.
"Grh… Splendid." (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama dropped to one knee.
A deep slash ran from his shoulder to his chest, blood spilling out.
…Haah… haah… haah…
My ragged breaths escaped my mouth.
Time Delay magic consumed a lot of mana.
On top of that, the Thunder Form – Orthrus, requiring four strikes in less than a second, wasn't a technique I could use repeatedly.
(That was close.) (Eugene)
I didn't expect him to block three out of four slashes.
It was practically a first-timer-killer technique.
I doubt it would work a second time.
Clack… clack…
Footsteps echoed.
I turned quickly…and there stood…
"…Prime Minister Catherine." (Eugene)
"It's been a while, Eugene-kun." (Catherine)
Before me was the second most powerful person in the Empire.
"Edward-san, please heal your wound." (Catherine)
The Prime Minister tossed something to the Sword Hero-sama.
"Ah, thanks, Prime Minister." (Edward)
What he caught was an elixir.
Pouring it over the wound healed it instantly.
I braced for him to resume the fight…
"Nope, I lost, I lost!" (Edward)
The Sword Hero-sama smiled, sheathing his one-handed sword.
"......"
While I was wondering what to do…
"Eugene-kun, we knew you would come. The Destiny Oracle told us so." (Catherine)
"…Huh?" (Eugene)
Wait…Orianne-sama?
I wasn't told about this.
"I heard you infiltrated the Holy Union alone, defeated the current Captain of the Holy Knights, Robert-dono, and even raised your blade against the Sword Holy Maiden." (Catherine)
"Well…that's…" (Eugene)
It was true, but phrased like that, it made me sound like some kind of terrorist.
"My! For your face, your actions are quite extreme! As expected of Jubei-dono's son!" (Edward)
…Was that a compliment?
"We've received multiple offers of a ceasefire from the Destiny Oracle, but unfortunately, only Her Majesty can make that decision. The Imperial military leadership remains adamant on avenging the late Emperor, and the citizens who loved him also demand retribution against the Holy Union. Had the late Matrona-sama…who ordered the assassination of the previous Emperor…still been alive, there might have been room for negotiation by handing her over, but…" (Catherine)
While the Sword Hero-sama remained cheerful, the Prime Minister spoke with sadness.
"I've heard… Her Majesty hasn't appeared in public for over a month." (Eugene)
When I asked…
"Yes…that's correct." (Catherine)
Prime Minister Catherine's expression darkened.
"Is she unwell?" (Eugene)
"More mentally than physically… She's been suffering from insomnia, and now can't sleep without sleeping medication." (Catherine)
"She's…like that?" (Eugene)
The position of Empress, the outbreak of war…
I couldn't imagine the strain it put on her.
(And in that time, I wasn't…there for Airi.) (Eugene)
The grip on my sword tightened unconsciously.
"Eugene-kun, please see Her Majesty." (Catherine)
The Prime Minister looked toward the back of the audience chamber.
"You won't stop me?" (Eugene)
It was so sudden, I was taken aback.
"We can't stop someone who even Edward-san lost to. I cleared the room for that reason." (Catherine)
"I see…" (Eugene)
It was the Prime Minister who had arranged all this.
I walked through the long corridor at the back of the chamber, stopping before a large door.
This should be Her Majesty's private quarters.
I have been to the door before, but never inside.
I knocked.
No answer.
According to the Prime Minister, Airi should be inside.
I grasped the doorknob and slowly opened it.
The room was dark, with only faint light.
For a moment, it seemed no one was there…but there was a figure on the bed.
(Asleep?) (Eugene)
Or so I thought…
"…Leave."
She was awake.
Her tone was clear.
But her voice was utterly devoid of spirit.
While I hesitated over what to say…
"I said get out!!!"
She stood with sudden anger, my childhood friend turning to face me.
"…Airi." (Eugene)
"…Eh?"
Airi stared at me as if seeing a ghost.
And I probably had the same look.
(You've…grown thin, Airi.) (Eugene)
Her beautiful blond hair was as immaculate as ever, but her face and arms seemed thinner than I remembered.
Her large eyes, always fixed on me, had no light, and the dark circles beneath them told me she hadn't been sleeping.
"…E-Eugy…is that you?" (Airi)
Airi staggered toward me.
"Ah!" (Airi)
She nearly fell, and I hurried to support her.
"Eugy!" (Airi)
Airi hugged me.
When I returned the embrace, she felt frailer than before.
"I came to see you." (Eugene)
When I said that…
"You're late!!! Idiot!!!!" (Airi)
She shouted into my ear, but her voice had regained a bit of strength.