Vol 4 Chapter 58: Pride and Justice

A spacious clearing with no trees in the way, offering a clear view. It was free from obstacles and large enough to allow a group to surround our party—a situation clearly unfavorable to us.

The elven warriors charged. The moment they moved, Fana-san raised her voice and called, “Shin-san!” Just from that single word, I understood her intent. I immediately opened my mouth and began to act.

“Yes! Everyone—《Support Magic!》”

I cast support magic to amplify Lena’s and Alice’s magic power and precision, boost Nina’s and Kaguya’s speed for melee combat, and reinforce Fana-san’s body with defensive magic as she stood as our shield. Once Fana-san confirmed this, she promptly issued her orders.

“Everyone, be careful as usual! But remember, they’re elves—don’t take their lives.”

Her words conveyed kindness, likely out of consideration to avoid creating conflict between races. However, the elves didn’t interpret it that way. Instead, their faces twisted in bitterness, their pride seemingly wounded. They responded with anger.

“You filthy humans!”

“How dare you mock us!”

“We’ll make you regret this!”

“As if we’d lose to a woman!”

Their graceful faces contorted with rage as the elven warriors armed themselves and rushed forward. Leading the charge were several small, nimble men dual-wielding daggers. They targeted the one they considered the greatest threat, Shirley-san.

The moment their dull blades flashed in the light, a gust of wind kicked up, stirring the dust. The sudden shift widened the elves’ eyes, but their training allowed them to tighten their grips on their daggers without flinching. Then they noticed.

“Too slow…”

The daggers they’d been holding were gone. Now they were in the hands of a grinning thief, who juggled them playfully like a jester performing a trick.

With a mischievous smile, her youthful demeanor gave her a charm akin to a child’s, though to the elves, it was nothing but provocation.

“You little…!”

“Get her!”

Deprived of their weapons, the elves shouted orders to the others behind them, prompting them to ready their bows and prepare spells. However—

“Not so fast! 《Ice Blade!》”

Lena disrupted their movements with magic, while—

“Oh my, rough men aren’t popular with women, you know?”

Kaguya silently approached like a shadow, slicing through the bowstrings of the archers with her blade. Then—

“《Summoning Magic》—Succubus, neutralize them!”

“Yes~ Oh my, what handsome men. Ufufu♡”

From the glowing summoning circle emerged a beautiful succubus. She licked her lips seductively, flaunting her alluring figure to capture the elves’ attention.

A soft pink aura took shape, forming heart-shaped orbs that floated gently in the air. With a sway of her hips, a teasing touch, and a suggestive glance, she whispered to the entranced elves.

“Now, surrender to me♡ 《Enthralling Kiss♡》”

(Soft kiss) A quiet sound accompanied the tremble of her tempting lips. The floating hearts launched forward, and the elves, unable or unwilling to move, stood dazed as the magic hearts slowly drifted into their chests.

“Aah♡”

“Hnn♡”

“Oh, Succubus-sama♡”

The stern expressions vanished from their faces. With blissful sighs, they let their weapons fall and stood limp. The succubus grinned in satisfaction and spoke with an air of authority.

“Good boys♡ Now, go sit quietly in the corner. If you behave, I might just reward you later♡”

The elven men obeyed without resistance, curling up in the corners like stones. It seemed most of them were now neutralized.

“Tch! Humans… resorting to cowardly tricks!”

Only one opponent remained: the leader, Edgar. He glared at us with hatred. Cowardly tricks? This, coming from someone who had surrounded us with overwhelming numbers?

“I’ll return those words to you. Succubus! Neutralize him too.”

“Got it~ Mwah♡”

Alice countered his accusation with her own and commanded the succubus. Her lips released more pink magic, which flew straight at Edgar. But this time, the magic dissolved before reaching him, repelled and dispersed like mist.

Seeing him unscathed, Alice and the succubus gasped.

“Impossible! That spell didn’t work?!”

“It’s useless. Such childish magic won’t work on me.”

With a smug smile, Edgar stood confidently and held up the gemstone hanging from a string around his neck. What was that thing?

“Hah, you’ve got something interesting there. But how about this?!”

Nina, annoyed, threw a knife at the gem. The blade flew true but was suddenly deflected and clattered to the ground.

In Edgar’s hand was a sword, drawn and wielded with astonishing speed to block the attack.

“Too slow. Did you really think such a weak attack would work on me? Humans truly are simple-minded.”

He sneered, mocking Nina. Frustration welled up in her as she gritted her teeth. Her pride lay in her speed, which had been enhanced further with support magic, yet even that was thwarted.

Edgar seemed to be a formidable opponent. If so, then—

“Everyone, fall back and protect the others. Edgar is—”

Gripping the hilt of my magic sword tightly, I lowered my stance slightly.

“Hah, a weak human with guts, huh? Hmph. But—”

Edgar sneered as he pulled back a step, pointing his sword toward me. Then—

“I’ll take you down!”

“Don’t underestimate me, kid!”

With our shouts, Edgar and I dashed toward each other.

In an instant.

The clash of metal, a surge of impact, and sparks erupted between us. The slash he delivered was faster and heavier than even Grace’s when we sparred a few days ago. Without the aid of support magic, I wouldn’t have been able to intercept it.

Although Edgar was cornered, there was no sign of recklessness in his movements. His sword strikes were precise and deliberate.

Our swords locked together with a grating sound. To break the stalemate, we both swung our blades simultaneously.

Freed from the clash, Edgar stepped forward without hesitation, thrusting his sword directly at my heart with pinpoint precision. I deflected it from above, redirecting the force.

Without pause, he transitioned into a sweeping slash aimed at my neck. I ducked to evade it and countered with a strike aimed at his shoulder, but Edgar leapt back, as if anticipating my move, easily dodging my attack.

The distance between us grew again, and the tension weighed heavily on my body. My instincts told me he was tough, and my focus sharpened to an icy edge.

The first exchange had been evenly matched. We observed each other, the air between us charged with a sharp tension.

“Haaahhh!”

“Urrraahhh!”

I wasn’t sure who moved first. In a blur, our swords clashed again.

The two blades moved in constant motion, leaving afterimages. The sound of metal striking metal echoed repeatedly, and sparks lit the air like scattered stars.

I inhaled deeply. Swung my sword. Dodged his thrust. Twisted my body to evade. Swung my sword again. The sequence repeated in a blink of an eye.

Even the sound of Edgar’s breathing, the sweat dripping down his face, and the fleeting moment when his eyes blinked were all captured by my heightened focus.

Edgar must have been the same. Each time I left the smallest of openings, imperceptible to ordinary eyes, he launched an attack. He was undeniably a first-rate swordsman.

Realizing this sent a burning sensation through the back of my mind. Why would someone with such ability resort to using monsters and cowardly methods?

It angered me that someone with such strength chose not to use it to protect but to harm and demean others.

I couldn’t understand it. I didn’t want to. Whatever his reasons were, I would hold firm to what I believed was right.

“Urrraaahhh!” I roared, swinging my sword.

The crescent arc of my blade was intercepted by Edgar’s sword—but it wasn’t over.

Sliding down the length of his blade, my sword swept low, then rose from the ground in an upward slash aimed at his upper body.

Edgar positioned his sword defensively, ready to block. Just before contact, I twisted my wrist and forcibly altered the trajectory.

Not his neck, his heart, or even his sword. My target was—the back of his hand.

The slight gap between his gauntlet and fingers. My blade thrust into that opening, slicing through flesh with a wet sound as crimson blood sprayed.

“Gyaaahhh!” Edgar howled in pain, his scream reverberating as he writhed. Yet even so, he refused to let go of his sword.

“This ends now!”

I swung my blade horizontally, striking the sword he barely clung to.

A sharp metallic sound rang out as his weapon was wrenched from his fingers, spinning through the air before embedding itself in the ground far away.

Edgar’s gaze followed his lost sword, and he tensed his legs as if to chase after it.

“It’s over. Surrender.”

I placed the edge of my blade against his throat and spoke quietly.

“To think… that I… a mere human…”

His words trailed off as his body froze. A thin trickle of blood ran down his neck, dripping onto his chest.

That was close. Mimicking Grace-san’s combat style on the spur of the moment had worked out somehow.

I sighed in relief, thinking this was finally over—until I caught a faint voice through my enhanced hearing.

“Oh dear. Even though I lent you my help, you’re still useless. The fun was supposed to start from here, you know?”

The voice referred to itself as “Boku.” I glanced at Aster, but she was still suspended, and when our eyes met, she gasped and turned away. That didn’t make sense.

The tone didn’t match Aster’s. Unlike her childish demeanor, the voice was darker, dripping with malice.

If not her, then whose voice was it?

I scanned the surroundings, straining my ears, but found no one suspicious.

“Oh well—do it♪”

The moment I heard the voice, a scene unfolded that made everyone freeze in disbelief.

The gemstone hanging from Edgar’s neck shattered, emitting a bright light.

“No…! Gaaahhhh!”

Edgar’s eyes widened, and he let out a beast-like roar. His gaze became empty, devoid of emotion or reason, as if he wasn’t even aware of the world before him.

Then, he bellowed:

“Burn this world to ashes with the flames of hell! 《Hellflame Inferno!》”

A scorching heat brushed my skin, but it wasn’t directed at us.

The advanced fire magic Edgar unleashed ignored us entirely and surged toward the elven village.

“Our village… no…”

Shirley-san’s anguished voice escaped as, in an instant, the lush greenery and homes of the elven village were engulfed in roaring flames.