Chapter 517: Fully Prepared

Haruna followed Akira, and Chinatsu tried to follow her. However, Chinatsu stopped. Haruna was carrying Acerola and Titos until a moment ago, but she passed them just before entering the hole in the ceiling.

「Whoa!?」

「Kuh…!」

Touko caught Titos, and Chinatsu caught Acerola. In the meantime, Haruna disappeared from their sight.

「That idiot, she rushed in alone! Chinatsu, let’s chase after her! She’s going to have Akira all to herself!」

「Touko, that statement is misleading. Also, don’t chase after them for now.」

「Eh? Why?」

「I’ve cooled down my head and thought about it. We can’t take the emperor to the battlefield of the Great Eight Demons level. Even if he’s a former emperor, he’s still an important person.」

「We were aiming for his head, right? It doesn’t matter if he’s dead or alive, right?」

「Do you remember what Ernest-san said before Toue-kun appeared? If the blood of the royal family were to cut off, Elderado would be destroyed by a curse. He was talking about it like it had something to do with us, so maybe it had something to do with Vakala-san.」

「H-Hmm? Err… what does that mean?」

「In other words, there is a possibility that the country will really be destroyed by a curse. The definition of the destruction is vague. In the worst case, all the citizens may die. Vakala-san’s power is still unknown, so I can’t say that it’s impossible for something like that to happen. I don’t want the lives of so many people to be affected by the decision I made easily.」

「T-That might be true, but… what about Haruna? My rival is more important to me that the lives of strangers! Akira is now a subordinate of that old man Vakala. If that’s the case, the three of us should fight him together instead of letting Haruna fight him by herself!」

The danger that Chinatsu pointed out is understandable, but Touko’s statement, which puts her friend first, is also correct. Still, it was Chinatsu who wanted to go after Haruna more than anyone else. Naturally, Chinatsu fully understood that.

「I know. I think Toue-kun’s strength is equal to or better than ours. It would be better for the three of us to fight together. But Touko, this is Vakala-san’s trial. Toue-kun is his subordinate that he dispatched, so it can be said that Toue-kun is his proxy. And then, Toue-kun claimed to be the Emperor of Elderado. In that position, he nominated Haruna to have a one-on-one battle. In other words――」

「――Beating the emperor Akira one-on-one is the trial, right?」

「If I had to say, I think it’s about how far we can satisfy Vakala-san. It’s just my guess, though.」

「…… Sigh, Chinatsu’s guess or prediction at a time like this usually hits the mark. Okay, I got it. We just have to keep these people safe, right?」

「Yes, I think that’s the best thing to do. Also, when Haruna threw them, she was talking to me with her eyes?」

「Ha? Her eyes?」

「Yes, it was the same eyes as when she went to the finals of the national kendo tournament. Her eyes were filled with expectation, saying that she would enjoy it with her all and win. If she said it that far, I could only push her back silently….」

「O-Oh, I see? It can’t be helped then …」

Seeing Chinatsu’s somewhat distant look, Touko could only agree. Just as there are things in the world that only married couples can understand, there are also things that only childhood friends can understand. Touko, who was being considerate, decided to agree to it.

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Haruna chased after Akira and ran through the hole in the ceiling as fast as she could. The slope is almost vertical, but with both hands free, Haruna could go through it without kicking the air. After climbing up the slope at the same speed as running on the ground, she found a wide space where the entire surface was completely black. Akira, who has arrived first, didn’t launch a surprise attack and was waiting for Haruna at a distance. Behind him, Ernest is lying and seems to be unconscious.

「Toue-kun, is this the place for our battle? Wait, huh? Isn’t it the same place as the laboratory where we fought White Wolf-san?」

「Yeah, that’s right. After you left me and ran away, the wolf used a lot of flames on me. As a result of being burned and melted, it turned so black.」

「I see. I’m sorry!」

Haruna bowed her head deeply.

「…… Well, it’s a large space, and it’s a good place to fight. Ah, you don’t have to worry about that wolf. Maybe she was getting tired of punching and burning me, she went home after I died hundreds times.」

「I see. By the way, can I ask one, no, two things?」

「What is it?」

「Toue-kun, you can speak properly now, huh? Also, your head… you have a black mist face now.」

Haruna pointed to her own face and pointed out the changes in Akira’s body and mind. Indeed, the noise in Akira’s words was gone, and a black mist was formed above the neck of his armor, mimicking the head from his human days.

「…… Oh, it’s like a sign that I’m fully prepared to fight you, Katsuragi. The safety that Vakala-sama put to keep my spirit from breaking down has been destroyed. With that, I no longer have the immortality I had when I was the wolf’s playmate. But that’s a trivial thing. It was just a borrowed immortality from Vakala-sama. Now I’m a real monster with a human mind. As for my face, well… my undead body is unconsciously trying to get closer to a human being, I think? Well, it doesn’t matter now.」

「H-Hmm…?」

Black smoke is starting to come out of Haruna’s head.

「…… To put it simply, now I can fight you with my all, Katsuragi.」

「I see, then that’s good! I love giant-killing, but I haven’t had much experience with someone growing rapidly and catching up with me, so I’m really looking forward to it. I can’t give this one up to Chinatsu and Touko, ehehe.」

Haruna, who has changed her gear and readied her Doggan Staff, is full of motivation. It’s as if the fact that she was dumbfounded while emitting black smoke just now was a lie. It’s because Haruna is like that that Akira has been able to burn with revenge. He’s so excited that the black mist seems to be smiling.

「Yep, you’re making a good face, Toue-kun. Now, let’s enjoy the last boss battle!」

「Yeah, my resentment and jealousy―― let me vent everything!」

「「――――Death Scythe!」」

The same magic was chanted simultaneously, and the jet-black aura clung to Haruna’s Doggan Staff and Akira’s long sword. Then, they both took a step with their dominant foot and rushed forward while smashing the floor. Without even a moment to blink, the two moved into each other’s attack range and unleashed their best blow.