Volume 3 Chapter 86: A Sextet Dedicated to the King

This is troublesome.

An extremely troublesome opponent.

At this rate, it’s bad. If we don’t do something about this troublesome opponent, we’re bound to lose.

Swinging the Crimson Sword and striking the White Giant, I felt an overwhelming sense of urgency at the sheer difficulty of the situation.

“That’s why! Let’s combine everyone’s strength!”

“Nooo! Absolutely not!”

“Stop being stubborn!”

“Nooooooo!!”

Honestly, this person—Millis—is such a pain.

I had been persistently proposing to Millis that we team up with the members of the Sextet Ensemble.

If the power of the Sextet Ensemble were combined with that of the White King, it would become an overwhelmingly powerful Magis Gear. Even this mechanical soldier, born from the Floating City Pharmament, should be defeatable.

Although the burden of using the Sextet is too great for me alone, now that I’m in a semi-fused state with Millis, I believe we can manage it—albeit with some strain.

It’s not a bad strategy. It really shouldn’t be a bad move, and yet—

“I will never agree to such a thing!”

Millis had been adamantly refusing since the beginning.

At first, she had been in high spirits, but ever since I mentioned having a good idea, she had been absolutely furious.

Without Millis accepting the Sextet, there was, of course, no way to fuse the Magis Gear.

That’s why I had no choice but to desperately persuade her.

“Why not?!”

“Can’t you understand?!”

“I don’t understand!”

“Grrrrrrr!”

“Rigarige-rerememememememe!”

“Shut up (noja)!!”

While arguing with Millis, I deflected the incoming fist of the White Giant with the Crimson Sword.

Thanks to the inhuman strength granted by the White King, we were able to hold our ground against the massive fist. Millis, who was controlling the Longing Sky, allowed the White King—normally incapable of flight—to engage in aerial combat.

However, things were not in our favor.

“We can’t win like this!”

We weren’t losing—not yet—but it was obvious that we lacked the decisive blow.

Although I could injure it with the Crimson Sword, its sheer size and resilience prevented any of my strikes from being fatal.

“What nonsense are you spouting?! There’s no way we can lose! Look, we’re clearly pushing them back!”

“That’s only for now! If this keeps up, the White King will deactivate!”

“Grrrrrrr!”

While fiercely arguing with Millis, I flew around the staggering arm of the White Giant, inflicting wounds as I moved.

It’s true that we currently had the upper hand. The White King is the ultimate Magis Gear. Its raw performance alone gives us confidence in our superiority.

If this battle could go on endlessly, our victory would be inevitable.

But the White King has a time limit.

And it’s not a particularly long one.

If we want to settle this before time runs out, we’ll need an additional power boost.

Millis surely understands this as well—she must. And yet—

“Even so, I refuse! I absolutely refuse!”

There it is.

“Then how are we supposed to win?!”

“With our love!”

“That’s not that strong!!”

“What did you just say?!”

“Ririririga-bebelebebe-melululululu!”

“I said, shut up (noja)!!”

Kicking the noisy White Giant on its head, we retreated, finally hovering mid-air.

If it’s come to this, I have no choice but to resort to my last measure. I will convince this stubborn person no matter what it takes. No more holding back.

“When we get back, I’ll do whatever you want!”

“! Hmm, well… but…”

I felt the definite impact of my secret technique, Bribery: Perfect Communication.

Millis hesitated, albeit slightly.

For moments like these, I’ve made a point of acting rebellious toward Millis on a daily basis. The accumulation of my everyday resistance was paying off.

It’s terrifying to think about later, but I only need one more push.

If it’s to get through this situation, I’m willing to sacrifice myself.

I don’t care if I end up as Millis’s toy.

“Fine! I’ll go on as many dates with you as you want!”

I didn’t really know what Millis meant by “dates,” but I vaguely recalled something she’d wanted before I was dragged into all this and said it recklessly.

I wasn’t really thinking clearly. I was desperate, and this was my best shot.

What, you think I’m the worst? Yeah, I am. That’s just the kind of guy I am—tainted, through and through.

But if I didn’t go that far, we would lose. And it wasn’t just my defeat—it would mean defeat for everyone here.

Even Millis, with the power of the White King, wouldn’t be able to overcome this foe on her own.

Despite her usual playful demeanor, it was obvious she was tired.

I could tell.

After all the time I’d spent trying to keep Millis in a good mood, I could see it clearly—this opponent was forcing her to push herself to her limit.

She wasn’t as composed as she seemed.

If it were only my defeat, I could accept that.

But I couldn’t let the people who came to save me—and Millis—be put in harm’s way.

“…The White King, it’s… something that belongs only to me and Noil.”

“What?”

“It’s ours, just for the two of us!”

“… …”

“To let anyone else join in… that’s something I absolutely cannot allow!”

When she said it like that, I had no rebuttal.

Her emotions, which normally didn’t come through so clearly, were leaking out.

I could feel how much she cherished the bond we shared through the White King.

But even so—

“…Still, I suppose I have no choice.”

Millis smiled.

“If you’re that serious about it, I have no choice but to accept.”

The White King is a connection where, if we’re not careful, our thoughts and feelings flow freely to each other.

I had been so desperate that I hadn’t paid any attention to that.

And so, everything had been conveyed to Millis.

“Two dates. That’s the price I’ll accept.”

“…No dragon hunting, though.”

“Fufu, I understand.”

At this point, I might as well let it all out.

It’s the least I could do to show sincerity to her, who swallowed her distaste and accepted my proposal despite how much she hated it.

Still, saying it out loud felt a little too embarrassing, so—

“Millis.”

“What is it?”

“I hate you.”

“Why would you… huh?”

I like you, Millis.

Not romantically, of course.

But as a person, I’m glad I met you.

“F-fufu, nuhyuh… nuhyuhuhuhuhuh, fu!”

Ugh, that laugh is creepy.

What’s with that laugh?

But well… it looks like my feelings got through to her.

“Nuhyuhuhuhuhuhu.”

Seriously, can you stop laughing like that? It’s gross.

“All right… let’s do this.”

“Mm! Leave it to me!”

We turned back toward the White Giant.

It had been unusually quiet, and now I could see why.

It had both its palms outstretched toward us, preparing to fire a massive energy beam.

Immense energy was gathering, radiating light so intense it made my eyes hurt just to look.

If that thing fired, the damage would be catastrophic.

I won’t let that happen.

“The Sextet”

All of their immense combined energy was concentrated into one vessel—the Crimson Sword.

No special abilities were needed. With the White King, it was enough to amplify that power.

There was no need for a variety of techniques.

Instead, everything was converted into pure destructive force.

I’m sorry for using your power like this.

“It’s fine, Noil-san—”

“Yeah, go all out—”

“Let’s make it go boom!”

“Hehe, do you think my power will help?”

“Noil will pull it off, I’m sure—”

“We entrust you with everything we have—”

“Thank you…”

“Hm?”

“Just talking to myself.”

“Grr… I’m never doing this again!”

Before Millis could change her mind, I raised the Crimson Sword into a ready stance.

In that instant, the Crimson Sword transformed.

It became a Sextet Dedicated to the King.

The power of everyone granted the White King a new weapon:

A massive sword of light, reaching toward the heavens.

“Ririririgarihehhhhhyulurhelkkuuuuuu!!!”

As the sun rose to announce the dawn, an enormous beam of light erupted from the White Giant.

Calmly and precisely, Millis and I swung the sword of light downward.

Light collided with light.

The impact of the massive forces clashing spread dazzling white light across the entire area—

And the sword of light cut through everything.

“It’s over (noja)!!”

The sword of light sliced the White Giant, along with its beam, into two halves.

The shockwave traveled forward but spared everything beyond the giant.

“Riri… Ryu… Mel… herc…”

With those final words, the White Giant—Aizon—fell completely silent.

The severed Floating City shimmered faintly and then vanished, as if it had been nothing more than a mirage.

I’m sorry—

I silently apologized to the creator of the city.

Rather than let it be used by someone like him, I chose to destroy it myself.

I don’t know what he might think of that, but—

“There was no other choice. Noil, you don’t need to carry that burden.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.”

Nodding at Millis’s words, I deactivated the Sextet.

The sword of light faded, returning to its original form—the Crimson Sword.

“You understand, don’t you?! Two dates! Two dates, no less!”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

I smiled wryly, already plotting to skip one of them, as I made my way back to the others.

◇

It had been a while since I stood on solid ground.

After confirming the complete disappearance of the Floating City, we descended to a nearby plain.

The scent of soil and grass, and the wind gently brushing against my cheeks—

Well, not that I could actually feel any of that because of my helmet. But you know, it’s the vibe.

The whole ordeal, now that it was over, hadn’t even lasted a full day.

Kidnapped at dusk, running around all night, beaten to a pulp once—it was easily the hardest mission yet.

And yet, when it was over, my heart felt inexplicably full.

It was probably because I could witness this scene right in front of me.

In the morning sun, Tesea was pulling Sierra’s hand, running around in sheer delight.

Sierra’s face was as expressionless as ever, but Tesea was grinning from ear to ear, frolicking about.

Feeling the ground beneath her feet, she stomped on it, rolled over it, even put a blade of grass in her mouth only to spit it out—and still, she kept laughing.

She was experiencing the outside world with her entire being.

Just seeing that made me feel completely satisfied.

It was, without a doubt, the best reward from this whole incident.

“Oi, you servant! You did good, yeah?”

So don’t ruin the moment, okay?

I’m kind of soaking this in right now.

Alice, who slapped my back while saying that, immediately yelped and crouched down, clutching her hand with tears in her eyes.

Of course it hurts. Hitting the White King with your bare hands, especially with your strength, was bound to hurt.

And just as I thought that—

“Oh.”

“It’s time, isn’t it?”

The White King deactivated, and Millis appeared on my shoulder.