Vol 3 Chapter 60 – Unexpected Counterattack【Empire War Arc】

Roy and the two heavy knights were locked in a fierce exchange of blows.

He dodged the great hammer and deflected the greataxe.

Deflecting large weapons nearly sent his arms flying. He absolutely couldn’t take them head-on—they mixed vertical and horizontal swings with skills, making it difficult to launch an aggressive attack.

Yukino was administering healing magic to the injured who had retreated slightly to the rear. Despite it being the Season of Blue, sweat beaded on her forehead. Other healers were accompanying them, but everyone’s magical power was worryingly low.

Whoosh!

The enemy’s great hammer grazed past his nose, and the greataxe swung down from the side immediately after.

He avoided it with a backstep and attacked the greataxe wielder, but the knight guarded with the haft. Now that there were two of them, the enemy fought more cautiously, and even when Roy went on the offensive, he couldn’t land effective attacks.

(However, swinging large weapons around means stamina decreases significantly… They’ve already swung them quite a few times since the battle started, and they’ve used skills too.)

(Is it about time for underhanded tactics to start working?)

Against Roy, who wasn’t attacking, the greataxe launched attacks with few openings that could be immediately covered. Naturally, after Roy countered, the great hammer should flow in smoothly.

When he easily avoided the first greataxe swing, the partner moved to cover the opening.

And when the heavy knight raised the great hammer to crush Roy’s body, Roy used Shadow Whip to yank both his legs.

“Guah!”

The great hammer heavy knight fell with a cry. (Normally I should immediately go for the great hammer, but the greataxe wielder’s stance is intact, so I’ll press the greataxe heavy knight instead.)

“Damn you! Rending Impact!”

A skill that wrapped the descending axe in magical power to attack with a shockwave. If it hit the axe, he’d be cleaved in two; if he dodged, the shockwave would send him flying—an attack that also served to buy time for his partner’s recovery.

“Shadow Prison!”

He avoided the enemy’s skill by turning his body and wrapped the descending axe itself in multiple shadowy bands. The magical impact ended in a misfire, blocked by the bandage-like wrapped shadow bands.

“Impossible! —Ugh!”

Roy stabbed the holy sword into his side and immediately threw Fragarach’s dagger. The dagger sank deep into the wrist of the heavy knight who had recovered from his fall and was trying to lift the great hammer.

“Hey, greataxe guy… I think you understand, but don’t pick up your weapon anymore, okay? You’ll die from blood loss, you know?”

The heavy knight waved his hand back and forth behind him to answer.

“Well, you were way stronger than the Kingdom knights.”

Hearing that, the heavy knight laughed through his nose, said “…Just go already,” and Roy headed toward Sophia without looking back.

*The dagger was responsibly recovered by Yukino later.

☆☆☆

He saw the light of Light Spear Hasta Blitzen.

(Sophia’s probably there.) As Roy sprinted, he grasped the situation along the way.

Yukino was rushing around treating people alongside several guards. There were corpses, but before the start, he’d been told that the custom of Imperial Duels was to treat enemies and allies without discrimination.

Naturally, the enemy healers who had surrendered were also cooperating. (How should I put it—it’s a much cleaner method of resolution than in the Kingdom.)

And so, when he reached Sophia, Ganalkin had his hands raised in surrender. Wounded mercenaries and knights were scattered around the area.

“Oh my, you’re late. It’s already settled.”

(Sophia… I knew she’d defeated them faster than me, but she took down Ganalkin’s guards too? That’s way too fast!)

Roy had acquired one offensive-type skill thanks to his increased enhancement values, but it wasn’t a skill to use at close range, so he’d had no choice but to fight with small tactics.

“I’m the type who fights while managing my magical power distribution. What would you do if the battle dragged on?”

“In that case, I’d rely on you.”

At Sophia’s instant answer, Roy sent her an exasperated gesture and turned his gaze to Ganalkin.

“Kukuku, I thought you’d been holed up without attending the noble council meetings… I see, I see—you were gathering relic wielders. That’s why you left me alone even when I entered your territory.”

Despite being defeated, Ganalkin showed no attitude of a loser.

(He’s hiding something, isn’t he?)

Roy went to Ganalkin and grabbed him by the collar.

“Hey, you—aren’t you hiding something?”

“Guh! Kukuku, didn’t you wonder? Why would I invade neighboring territory just to get a mine?”

Then Ganalkin pulled out a black staff from his breast. At first glance, it resembled Yukino’s Thyrsus, but it gave off a different evil aura distinct from corruption.

Sensing danger, Roy took distance with a backstep in one motion.

“Geas, you see—there’s no problem if you kill your opponent after surrendering!”

With his shout, something burst out from the nearby thicket.

(A black dog… no, a wolf?)

An ominous wolf-like monster walked as if protecting Ganalkin. The size of a cow, with red eyes and jet-black fur, it evoked a biological revulsion.

“Now then, can you exhausted people handle this thing?”

“Go! Cerberus!”

The black wolf let out an especially loud growl and lunged at Roy. Roy held the holy sword like a shield and faced it head-on.

With this, the curtain rose on the final battle.