"My, my. Luca, you certainly have something curious as your enemy."

"......"

The devil fell silent as he looked at Kryphi, who simply shrugged his shoulders.

'What a strong human. How did he approach me before I even noticed?'

The life force exuding from Kryphi was astonishingly powerful, easily among the strongest of the humans the devil had seen before he was sealed in the devil stone.

"By the way, you have quite a unique appearance. You resemble the devils from myth. So, should I call you Mr. Devil?"

"......."

"You're a rather taciturn friend. Well, I'll call you Mr. Devil for now."

The devil, sensing some mockery in Kryphi's tone, replied in a slightly agitated voice.

"Don't bother me. You may deserve praise for cutting off my arm by chance, but to me, it's meaningless."

Zzzt!

Dust from the surroundings gathered toward the devil, and in an instant, the severed arm regenerated.The devil displayed its restored strength as he clenched and unclenched his fist.

"Oh~ Is that so~? Impressive."

"......."

"Is the boasting time over? Then I suppose it's time to fight now?"

Kryphi said provokingly in a gentle tone, and the devil replied with a more heightened tone.

"Do you think you can defeat me?"

"I wouldn't still be standing here if I didn't think I could beat you. Otherwise, wouldn't I have run away by now?"

Kryphi gave a small laugh, shrugged, and pointed his sword at the devil.

"Kryphi Mosto, the Nightmare of the Battlefield. I'll teach you a thing or two."

Twist.

"... You, you think you can teach me? Me?"

"Yes, well. I may not look it, but I'm actually a professor at the continent's top academy."

At those words, the devil lost his composure and shouted, as if he couldn't stand it any longer.

"A mere human dares to say he'll teach me!"

Bang!

A powerful force erupted from the enraged devil. It was a peculiar power, unlike magic power or the mana of nature. A power only devils could wield—a devil's magic power.

'Looks like phase one is cleared.'

Watching this, Kryphi steadied his mind.The Nightmare of the Battlefield, Kryphi Mosto's first winning strategy: agitate your opponent.

'Stage two is progressing splendidly.'

With that, Kryphi glanced at Luca. At some point, Ottbo had gently picked up Luca and was disappearing into the bushes with him.

Kryphi Mosto's second winning strategy: do not leave your weakness on the battlefield.

"I didn't intend to fight someone of your level, but I cannot overlook such arrogance. Even if I have to use some of my stored life force, I'll make sure to kill you!"

"Ha ha, how interesting. I won't go down so easily."

As Kryphi readied his sword stance, he sensed movement behind him.

Isella had staggered to her feet, gripping her sword.

"... Professor, that isn't an opponent you should handle alone."

"Careful now, a half-dead student shouldn't be fighting, either."

Kryphi spoke without looking back.

"Please go and protect Luca. I felt another presence while coming here. Ottbo alone might not be able to keep him safe."

"!"

"And, as for me, Kryphi Mosto—I assure you, I'm one of the strongest swordsmen in today's Empire. Don't worry too much. I am confident I could even defeat a 'member of Night'."

Isella's eyes widened briefly at a 'member of Night', but she soon composed herself and turned back.

"I'll leave the rest to you."

Kryphi stayed on guard against the devil until Isella disappeared. Ever since he declared he'd kill Kryphi, the devil hadn't moved.

Yet, noting the dust gathering around him, he seemed to be preparing something.

'Doesn't seem to be energy capable of destroying everything here. I'll leave it for now. Even if it is, I can block it at least once and buy my students time to escape.'

Thinking this, Kryphi steadied his breathing.

Kryphi Mosto's third winning strategy: complete detachment.

Agitate your opponent while you keep a perfectly cool head. Battle-hardened from years on the field, he knew how to deaden his heart.

Srrrk!

Within seconds, the dust gathered around the devil formed into the shape of a sword.

A jet-black demonic sword adorned with sinister light.

Gripping it, the devil muttered quietly.

"I'll kill you with what you're most proud of."

Fwoosh!

Knowing the devil's intention, Kryphi saw no reason to delay further. At a speed faster than the eye could follow, he appeared behind the devil and swung his sword.

Clang!

Amazingly, the devil blocked the surprise attack and countered by swinging his own sword.

But as if he'd anticipated that, Kryphi easily dodged and widened the distance.

"Is that all your skill amounts to? Attacking from the blind spot so your opponent can't react?"

"I'd show you more, but it's a shame there isn't enough time."

Kryphi responded lightly to the devil's provocation and straightened his posture, spreading his legs and pulling his sword inward.

Whish!

"!"

Just as Kryphi had done moments ago, the devil also moved so fast he appeared in front of Kryphi—at speeds the eye couldn't follow.

At the same time, the jet-black demonic sword slashed in an unavoidable arc, cleaving through space toward Kryphi.

Clang!

"...?"

For a split second, the devil couldn't grasp what had just happened.

He had swung his sword fully, but there was nothing in front of him.

Sensing movement behind, he turned to find Kryphi elegantly swinging his sword and returning to his stance.

Thunk!

And the jet-black blade of the demonic sword was buried in the ground.

The devil looked down at his own body.

There was a long slash across it.

He looked at his sword.

It was severed in half.

He paused briefly, then slowly turned to face Kryphi.

"You... you're not an ordinary human."

"Ha ha, I'm an ordinary human. Just one who's struggled to survive more than most."

At some point, Kryphi's eyes were open wide.

His eyes, usually hidden in a squint, were a predatory amber.

"But now's not the time for that story, is it? You'll disappear from here anyway."

"Those eyes... I see. You're a 'candidate'."

Muttering thus, the devil pointed the severed jet-black sword at Kryphi.

"I accept your strength. Let me then show you my true power."

Whoooosh!

A powerful current whipped up dust into a storm that swallowed the devil.

From inside the storm: crackle! crackle!—a shadow grew larger amid the sound of lightning.

Soon, the storm split open, and from within burst a massive half-man, half-beast monster: the upper body of a bull, the lower body of a man.

Its ashen body was made of dust, and its horn radiated a fearsome crimson devil magic.

― My name is Hagen, the Devil of Dust. Remember the name of the one who will kill you.

Kryphi looked up at the creature, unruffled.

"Oh my, in that case, I'll have to show you why I left the battlefield as well."

Zzzzt

Kryphi's sword turned inky black.

It was a moonless night, yet the blade appeared to absorb even the faintest light left in the darkness.

― Amazing. It's incomplete, but to wield an Ether Blade imbued with will... You have already reached the limits of humanity.

Hagen, the Devil of Dust, was impressed, but his wicked eyes soon gleamed all the more.

― Even so, a human is a human. You cannot defeat—!

Crack!

Then, a bolt of lightning struck. Hit by it, hagen's aura wavered, and Kryphi seized the opening.

Kryphi style Secret Technique—Myriad Transformations Sword

Chwararak!

Countless illusory swords, each embodying a different sword technique, swept over Hagen, the Devil of Dust.

― Kraaaagh!

Pfft—

With Hagen's death cry, the dust and devil magic scattered.All that was left behind was the devil stone.

Beeep!

"?"

Just then, with a whistle-like chirp, a bluebird flew in and snatched the devil stone away.Kryphi looked after it with a curious expression, but soon shrugged his shoulders as he remembered when Luca jumped out the window.

"I wonder if Ottbo got away safely."

Swoosh!

With that, Kryphi disappeared into the darkness of the forest.

* * *

― Listen carefully. When the battle starts, I'll taunt the enemy. Use that chance to escape with Luca.― It seems there are still some enemies left in that mountain, so be careful. Well, good luck.

According to his promise to Kryphi before entering the mountain, Ottbo fled immediately, carrying Luca.

"Pant... pant... pant...!"

Ottbo was running harder than ever before in his life.

Driven by his resolve to save Luca, his breath caught in his throat and his heart was pounding as if it would burst, but he never stopped his legs.

'Thank you, professor Mantas...!'

All those runs that nearly made him vomit during basic endurance classes—thanks to them, he could keep running now.

Thump! Crash!

"Wah?!"

But, with poor athletic ability, he couldn't help tripping repeatedly over roots or his own feet while running down the rough mountain path.

Whenever that happened, Ottbo fell forward.

If he fell to either side or backward, Luca might get hurt.

"Uuu...."

Each time he fell, he felt like crying.

Thanks to his magic power shielding his body, he didn't get many injuries, but his face was now smeared with dirt and leaves.

But there was no time to feel sad—the enemy could show up at any moment.

Ottbo staggered back up and started running again.

'Ugh... I should have learned a flying spell.'

Rustle!

"Eek?!"

Suddenly, something jumped out in front of him.

Kiiing!

It was a mechanical infantryman, not destroyed in all the previous commotion.

Seeing this, Ottbo freaked out and twisted to the side.

"Eliminate all witnesses!"

"Aaagh!"

But, on the side he turned to, there was a magic soldier armed with an magic tool.

Ottbo spun the opposite way, but as he was about to go, he sensed another presence.

"Oh, fuck...."

The thought of more enemies made Ottbo squeeze his eyes shut.

"You're faster than I expected, Ottbo Gress."

"...!"

It was a familiar voice. Ottbo cautiously opened his eyes.

Bang! Crack!

By the time he did, Isella had already dealt with the mechanical infantry and magic soldier.

"I-Isella!"

"Huff... Looks like I wasn't too late. What about Luca Traverse?"

"Luca's okay! He's not in danger!"

Upon checking Luca, Isella nodded in relief.Isella also looked exhausted, but unlike just before, her eyes were clear.

"Weren't you unconscious? Are you okay?!"

"I'm not so weak I need you to worry about me."

"Oh... right...."

At her cold response, Ottbo made a slightly disgruntled face, and Isella's lips trembled a bit as she turned her head.

"It was just dizziness from pushing my moonlight to the limit. As long as I have my magic power, these grunts are no threat—don't worry."

"G-Grunts? These guys?"

"Yes."

Now looking flabbergasted, Ottbo watched as Isella gazed into the darkness.

"There aren't many, but some of Third Prince's remnants remain. They can't beat me, but I can't protect you completely while fighting."

"T-That's fine! Maybe I don't know much, but at least I'll protect Luca no matter what!"

Isella looked forward at his determined tone.

"I'll trust you on that."

Was that a faint smile at the corner of her lips, or was it just his imagination?

* * *

"My, my, you've made quite a mess here."

Kryphi arrived at the place where Ottbo had hidden the automated carriage.

There were piles of mechanical debris and corpses, and Isella stood guard in front of the carriage.

"What happened to the devil?"

"A bluebird took it."

"... Excuse me?"

Isella looked confused at Kryphi's abrupt words, but as there was no better way to put it, Kryphi didn't explain further.

"Everything worked out, so don't worry. But what about Luca and Ottbo?"

"They're inside."

Isella stepped aside obediently, and Kryphi peeked inside the carriage. He gave a faint chuckle.

"... At times like this, they really look like children."

Luca and Ottbo were slumped together, fast asleep.

Like children who had dozed off after tiring themselves out playing.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=Professor Mantas getting her props...【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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