Volume 8 Chapter 1 The Justice Spear And The Gentle Sword
Countless arrows cut through the gaps between the trees.
Arrows, possessed of the power to pierce even thick iron plates, flew sharply and accurately toward their targets.
Both prey and enemies had been defeated in the same manner up to this point.
However,
"Busui (Unrefined)!!"
The enemy remained motionless, effortlessly shattering all the arrows. Not by deflecting them with a lance in hand, nor by blocking them with a Kiteshield. The arrows that approached shattered as if they had collided with something invisible.
The Grimoire of Justice, Vincent Luger.
Nest Anguise and the other suddenly brought into another dimension were under attack by Luger.
"Busui, Busui, Busui!! Reveal yourselves and confront me directly!"
Luger said with a roar, his voice resonating so loudly that the hidden trees quivered. It was ear-piercing.
Luger seems to have a low scouting ability and hasn't been able to find Nest, who is hiding.
However, the arrows shot by Nest don't reach Luger either. The arrows that have been shot so far have been shattered at a certain distance. He tried shooting from the side and behind, thinking there might be an invisible barrier, but the result remained the same.
He can't see any way to overcome this situation. Hid magic cannot increase the power of the arrows. It seems like they are at a stalemate, but that's not entirely the case.
"Well, it can't be helped. It goes against my aesthetics, but I'll have to smoke you out."
Luger said to himself while preparing his lance.
——Something's coming.
Nest felt the increasing tension and prepared himself to move at any moment.
It's okay, as long as he watches the enemy's movements, he can avoid them.
Luger placed his shield in front of him, tightened his grip on the lance with one hand, and gathered power in his waist.
Just by looking at his stance, it's clear that he is a skilled user, but what's even more concerning is the magic power he is emitting.
Magic power that seems impossible for a single individual to handle gathers around Lance. Nest already knew that it was not just for show.
"'Justice Lance(The Spear of Justice)'"
The spear pierced through the air.
It didn't just go to an empty place. It obliterated everything in its path - the trees, rocks, and the ground.
"..."
And yet, despite the immense destruction, there was an eerie silence.
Something colorless and transparent was released in sync with the spear's movement, quietly erasing everything it collided with.
Still, Nest didn't move.
Choosing not to move was a decision made because he realized the aim was off.
If Luger had adjusted his aim at the moment he unleashed his magic, Nest, along with Bertina on his back, would have vanished without a trace by now.
"Missed, huh?"
Luger muttered as he readied his lance once again.
The next one is coming.
Nest carefully takes an arrow out of the quiver and attaches it to the bow.
Meanwhile, Luger's magic power continues to increase. It's unbelievable that he can unleash such powerful magic effortlessly, but the reality is right in front of Nest.
"Oh, despicable invaders. I shall eliminate your evil with my lance!"
Luger steps forward and thrusts out his lance.
Has Luger sensed it through his magic power or is it just his intuition?
Luger's strike is launched with a trajectory that would surely eliminate Nest.
However, Nest is no longer there.
Activating his magic, Nest runs through the forest at an incredible speed. It's as smooth as flowing water. And when Luger's attack gouges the ground, Nest has already circled behind him.
And Nest isn't just running. He is shooting while moving.
Luger's magic is strong. Without understanding the logic behind it, he aims for the moment when the enemy turns to attack.
The arrow runs through the air towards Luger with impeccable timing.
At the same time, there was another moving shadow. Without any signals or indications, Sebastian stepped into Luger's territory at the exact same moment as Nest.
Like a cannonball, creating shockwaves, he aimed straight for Lugger's flank.
In each hand, he held a silver sword.
Coincidentally, both Nest and Sebastian aimed for the same moment.
However, Lugger remained unfazed by their approach.
With a loud sound, all the arrows shattered, and the ground beneath Sebastian's toes burst.
"――"
Sebastian tensed his muscles and forcefully halted his advance. The ground was gouged, and his body abruptly stopped in an unnatural shape.
Then, he turned around and leaped backward at top speed.
Immediately, Lugger's invisible barrier expanded. If Sebastian had hesitated even a second longer in escaping, he would have suffered the same fate as the arrows.
Sebastian swiftly retreated beyond striking distance and stood near Nest.
"Well, this is more than I imagined."
"...What do we do?"
"It seems I am incompatible with him. With that, I would be killed before feeling any pain."
"What are you talking about?"
As Nest was pondering, a high-pitched voice echoed from behind.
"Hey, how long are you planning to take! Stop messing around!"
"S-Sorry..."
Nest reflexively apologized.
The one shouting angrily was Mevia, a Saint and one of the Four Heroes who had the role of a "key."
Her magic was said to be able to even revive the dead.
A faint light enveloped Nest and Sebas' bodies.
The effect immediately became apparent, as all fatigue disappeared and vitality surged within them.
It was Mevia's magic. The enhancement was beyond mere healing, giving the illusion of reaching the peak of physical condition.
"Hmph, you finally show yourself! Prepare yourself! I'll turn you into rust with my spear!"
Recognizing their presence, Luger once again readied his lance.
"Tch, my guardian is a pervert, and the enemy is a loud idiot. This is the worst."
"I'm sorry, but even though there are different types of perverts, I can't be summed up in one word. If that were the case, I wouldn't have a position either."
"Get rid of that position right now."
Mevia clicked her tongue and took out a smoking pipe from her pocket.
Sebas immediately lit it.
Taking a slow drag of the smoke, Mevia gazed at the temporary sky and opened her mouth.
"Hey Nest."
"...What?"
"I'll let you out of this space. You should escape from there."
For a moment, Nest didn't understand what was being said to him.
"Wait, are you telling me to leave you behind?"
"I'm telling you to disappear because you're getting in the way. That idiot is strong. If there's someone like you who isn't fully committed, we won't be able to give it our all."
"Well..."
Being told by the Four Heroes, Nest couldn't say anything in return. After all, he was just a mere hunter.
While Nest remained silent, Mevia continued.
"When you get to the airport, head west without being noticed by anyone. With your sensing abilities, you should be able to find him."
"...Him, you say."
In response to the question, Mevia chuckled softly.
"You'll understand once you go."
The platinum magic power radiated from Mevia's body. It was a divine magic power, shining like a sun rising in the heavens, incomparable to Nest's.
At the same time, wings grew on Mevia's back. These enormous wings, resembling porcelain yet exuding warmth, were the embodiment of Mevia's magic.
They were healing wings, piercing through any difficulties, banishing injuries and illnesses.
"'Tenken (Heaven's Sword).'"
These wings were made of a gentle sword.
"Now, you will break free from these chains that bind you. Listen carefully, without hesitation, give it your all and escape. Nest, I believe in you."
Those were the final words.
"Alright――‼"
Nest's voice was drowned out by the flapping of wings.
The Heaven's Sword pierced his chest without a hitch.
However, there was no pain.
In the next moment, what hit Nest was a surge of heat akin to exultation.
Mevia's 'Heaven's Sword' not only healed injuries, but also... unleashed the human body's unconscious limiters that protect itself.
It unleashes the latent abilities possessed by that individual in their entirety.
Originally, it may or may not manifest in a single moment in one's life.
To forcefully release what will not manifest unless in the best condition, extreme concentration, and miraculous alignment of time.
The soul acts upon the body, and the body acts upon the soul.
Nest felt his own magic changing into something else.
If it's now, he might be able to escape from this area for sure.
But even if he can, it will only be Nest and Bertina.
Someone needs to stay here and stop Luger.
"What have you done, intruder, with your magic just now!"
As if to drown out the angry shout, Luger unleashes his magic.
Facing the irrational blow that erases everything, Mevia shouts without looking back at Nest.
"Go!"
Pushed forward by that voice, Nest starts running.
His feet stepping forward feel unbelievably light and powerful, as if they don't belong to him.
His magic took on unfamiliar shapes, activating on its own. Like a guide showing the way for him, his magic power bursts forth, moving forward.
And then, the view cleared the green forest, turning pitch black.
* * *
"I apologize, Mevia-sama."
Sebas, embracing Mevia sideways, muttered softly.
"Shut up. You, just keep your feet moving."
Mevia replied in a voice barely concealing her rough breath.
The 'Tenken' she wielded was exceptional even among various magic arts. Originally a magic centered around healing, she had devised the Spiritual Penetration Art (Shinrei)――'Heavenly Sword,' to assist the most powerful man who didn't require healing. It elevated even ordinary magicians temporarily to the level of a Sage, making its effects truly unparalleled.
However, both Mevia and Sebas were aware that despite possessing such power, they were currently in dire straits.
While holding Mevia, Sebas continued to evade Luger's spear.
If it was his power, he could have avoided this attack for countless nights.
Yes, if it was just Luger alone, even if they couldn't defeat him, it would have been manageable.
"Damn it, you bastard. I misjudged."
"If Mevia-sama couldn't see through it, there is nothing else but to praise the enemy."
The scenery reflected in their vision was distorted.
Yes, right now the two of them were inside someone's magic domain.
In other words, they were in the enemy's territory.
They had noticed that there were enemies other than demons involved, but they didn't expect there would be such a skilled magician among them. This man was on par with Lord level.
Mevia, who survived the Great War, is arrogant and careless.
They came here to capture her definitively.
Sebas quietly clenched his back teeth with determination.
If Silver Hero were here. Or if it was one of the Four Heroes, the outcome might have been different.
Even so, he will resist as long as he has life.
Just as he has been doing for over ten years, Sebas held Mevia tightly and gazed at the enemy.
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