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[LN] Volume 3: Chapter 3.1

Translator : PolterGlast

In Spasim Forest at dusk, Nozomu and Ken were facing each other.

The twilight was shining through the trees, illuminating them both in crimson.

"Why are you here and not Lisa?"

"Why should she have to go to all this trouble to respond to your invitation after what you\'ve done to her? That\'s why, I told her I would talk to you in her stead."

Ken made no attempt to hide his displeasure as he tossed the letter that Nozomu had given to Lisa.

"...... Well, certainly, I also have something I want to ask you. So I guess it\'s alright to think that you\'re here for that reason."

Nozomu, on the other hand, responded so while facing Ken\'s glare head-on.

The only thing that Nozomu wrote in his letter was "I want to talk to you about something that happened two years ago". Normally, someone with no involvement would have just ignored it and that would have been the end of it. However, the fact that Ken went to the trouble of coming to this place meant that he had his own reasons for coming here.

"I\'m going to be blunt. You\'re the one who framed me and accused me of being a despicable betrayer, right?"

"...... Haa? What the hell are you talking about?"

Nozomu went on with his words in response to Ken, who was playing dumb.

"You had to have a good reason to convince Lisa at that time. So you used my appearance and voice to convince her of your lies ......"

"That\'s ridiculous. If I were to use magic, even Lisa would have noticed it."

"Yeah, that\'s why it\'s weird. You knew I was busy with my training and didn\'t have time to cheat on her, didn\'t you?"

"Who knows? I wasn\'t with you 24/7. I didn\'t know what you were doing all the time. It\'s possible that something evil could happen ...... while I was away."

Ken\'s mouth contorted as he spoke so. The color in his eyes was clearly showing his disdain for Nozomu.

"Well, either way, it doesn\'t change the fact that you betrayed us......"

"Yeah, that\'s why it\'s weird."

"...... What are you trying to say?"

"...... If it were Lisa, she would have tried to make sure. But I\'ve never, ever been questioned by her."

For better or for worse, Lisa Hounds\' personality is straightforward. She is the kind of person who will see for herself whether the truth is true or not. Such is her character.

But Nozomu was never questioned by Lisa even once, until she abruptly dumped him.

"Someone saw her actually questioning someone who looked exactly like me. But, I wasn\'t the one rejecting Lisa at the time......"

"What does such testimony prove? It might have just been a mistake, you know?"

"Even if it was Shina Juliel who saw it?"

Ken\'s expression turned stiff at the mention of the only elf in Arcazam.

"The elf\'s sense of source elements is far superior to that of a human being. Normal humans have difficulty even perceiving the slightest trace of it."

Shina\'s conclusion is based on her elven senses. It was not magic, but a more special power was used.

"Ken, what you used was your ability. It\'s an ability that you haven\'t reported to the academy......"

The atmosphere gradually grew tense.

Seeing the slight frown on Ken\'s face, Nozomu was convinced.

"What\'s more, you have a collaborator."

The next moment, Nozomu picked up a stone that was lying on the ground near his feet and threw it toward a gap in the trees behind him.

"......~!"

A third person\'s voice, not Nozomu\'s nor Ken\'s, was heard.

Just as the thrown stone was about to enter the shadows of the trees, it bounced back with a high-pitched thud, *Clang!*.

Then, the person who had been hiding in the scenery slowly appeared.

"Camilla, it\'s you after all......"

It was the female student who had been Lisa\'s best friend and Nozomu\'s friend as well. It was Camilla Vecnose. She was gripping a cane that had bounced off the stone thrown at her and looking at Nozomu with shaken eyes.

"How did you notice me? You, the bottom of the barrel ......"

"Even if I couldn\'t see you, it didn\'t mean that your presence had vanished. I also felt the gaze of someone who wasn\'t a beast, and although it was very subtle, there was something strange about the way the grass and trees were swaying. Besides, the flow of air I felt on my skin was slightly off."

"...... You, just what kind of perceptions do you have?"

Camilla probably did not expect that Nozomu would notice her.

She was not able to hide her agitation, and Nozomu took a quick glance at her, then turned his attention back to Ken.

"You had Camilla disguise herself for you two years ago, as well, didn\'t you?"

"I never expected you to have really figured it out. But how stupid are you to take two years to figure it out?"

"Well, it\'s too late now, and there\'s nothing you can do about it," Ken added, shrugging his shoulders.

His provocative attitude struck a nerve within Nozomu.

"Regardless of what truly happened two years ago, your rumors have already been established as true. No matter how much you raise your voice, you have no proof, and no matter how hard you try to change it, you will never be able to."

The public identifies facts not based on the truth but on the atmosphere. And once the first impression is fixed, there is little that can be done to change it.

On top of that, in Nozomu\'s case, it would be hopeless considering the fact that many people saw the moment Lisa dumped him. That was why Ken did not hesitate to expose the truth.

Nozomu\'s closeness to Irisdina Francilt is a concern for Ken, but there is no proof. There is a world difference between what one can do and what it takes to prove that one actually did it.

Nozomu clenched his fists in anger at Ken\'s smugness.

His fingernails dug into the skin of his palms, and blood trickled down.

"...... Why did you do this?"

"Why? Obviously. Because it\'s impossible for you to protect Lisa!"

Ken\'s voice couldn\'t have been higher pitched than it was in response to Nozomu\'s angry tone of voice.

"She\'ll become a great adventurer, and she\'s going to be the center of attention. And you\'re not qualified to protect her, am I right? Absolutely ...... impossible."

Ability suppression. The reason why Nozomu was to tumble down.

With a look of disdain on his face, Ken raised his voice.

"Her father was an adventurer, and he died during his adventure. But Lisa is kind. Even you, who was unable to do anything due to your Ability Suppression, would not be abandoned. That\'s exactly why ......"

After a quick pause, Ken took on a demon-like expression on his face.

"I can\'t accept your existence ......!"

The next moment, Ken suddenly drew the longsword from his waist and slashed at Nozomu.

Nozomu reflexively drew his katana as he faced Ken\'s vertical slash, which was filled with clear intent to kill.

"Guh!"

A groan escaped from Nozomu\'s mouth as a shock ran through his arm. Ken\'s eyes, glaring at him from close range, were somehow dyed not with contempt but with a deep-seated hatred.

"You\'re dragging Lisa down, putting her life in danger!"

"Is that why you\'re doing this!?"

"It\'s necessary! To free her from her shackle which is you!"

Ken swung his longsword as he pushed Nozomu away with all his strength. As expected of someone of A-rank. Despite being full of hatred, his sword strike was sharp, and his body movements were fluid and efficient.

"I told her over and over again! I told her to just abandon you! Tell you to go back to where you came from! But Lisa wouldn\'t listen!"

Nozomu was able to parry the oncoming sword strikes by stepping back, but Ken, perhaps finding the situation disappointing, pressed him even harder.

"Dream? Yearning? Such things are only possible when there is life! What flower-garden idiots who can\'t see reality!"

Ken swung his sword in a fit of rage, throwing away both Nozomu\'s and Lisa\'s former wishes and dreams. The deafening sounds of clanging steel were heard as if to express his long-standing resentment.

"That\'s why I showed you both! The reality! And Lisa finally understood!"

"~! What the hell are you talking about!? You\'re just deceiving her!"

Nozomu finally snapped at Ken, who was justifying his own actions.

In a split second, he put his Qi on the blade of his katana, and with a single blow, he cut Ken\'s longsword in two.

"Tch......"

Ken reflexively delivered a kick, forcing Nozomu to take a distance.

"I see you\'ve acquired some strength, huh? But it\'s useless!"

Although he was momentarily surprised to see his longsword severed in two with a single blow, Ken calmly and quickly finished his chanting.

At the same time as the spell was finished being chanted, a new translucent sword blade was formed and extended from the severed part of the longsword.

The blade was reminiscent of a clear crystal. It resembled Irisdina\'s magic sword, [Lunar Eclipse], which was an extremely advanced magic sword possessing physical solidity.

Ken also invoked the magic of physical strengthening and attacked Nozomu again.

Perhaps because of the strengthening magic, his body movement and slashing speed were incomparably faster than ever before. His speed was comparable to that of Irisdina.

"Hmph ......!"

A series of three consecutive blows were unleashed, from a vertical slash to a horizontal cleave and then to a thrust.

The first blow would knock an ordinary student out of his or her stance, and the second blow would surely take him or her out.

Nozomu, who was under Ability Suppression, would never be able to defend against it. Ken was convinced.

"~, This bastard ......!"

However, such confidence was immediately overturned.

Nozomu used his diagonally upward slash to parry the approaching vertical slash and horizontal cleave, and then ducked his body to avoid the high-speed thrust.

Then, after handling Ken\'s three consecutive blows with no problem, he immediately counterattacked. He then counterattacked with a diagonally downward slash that carried the momentum of his evasive maneuver.

"~ !"

Ken reflexively put his magic sword into the trajectory of the oncoming slash. However, Nozomu\'s blade dug deeply halfway into the magic sword with just a single blow. Ken\'s face turned red with surprise.

(It can\'t be. Just like at the joint class before, what the heck is this!)

Remembering the time when Nozomu almost knocked him to the ground, frustration welled up in his chest.

I can\'t believe it, I mustn\'t acknowledge it, there\'s no way I\'m going to acknowledge it!

His impatience quickly turned into anger.

Driven by the rage that welled up inside him, Ken unleashed his magic power with all his might.

"Bastard! You\'re so annoying!"

The next moment, the magic sword expanded and transformed into countless needles. The tip of the needles were aimed at Nozomu.

Nozomu quickly lowered himself and activated his [Qi-jutsu・Flash Step]. The moment he fled toward Ken\'s side, countless needles were launched with a bursting sound and pierced the empty area where he had been just a moment before.

"Dammit, I missed, huh? Hey Camilla, what are you doing!?"

"............ What? If you just want to vent your frustration, you should do it yourself."

Although he lashed out at Camilla, who paid no heed to Ken\'s frustration, Ken quickly turned his attention back to Nozomu.

"I won\'t let you get away......"

Ken swung his blade again at Nozomu, who had moved away.

Then, the blade of the ice sword splits into several blades, and pounced on Nozomu, writhing like serpents.

[Serpentine Sword]

The sword blade splits too thin to be used as a sword, but by applying magic, Qi-jutsu, and other techniques, it is possible to perform a variety of slashing attacks.

Nozomu ran around in all directions through the dense forest of trees with his [Flash Step・Curved Movement], but the [Serpenine Sword] controlled by magic power blocked his escape route in the blink of an eye, and was close to tearing his body to shreds with its saw-like blades.

"Fuh~!"

Faced with the approaching [Serpentine Sword], Nozomu chose to intercept. As he slashed upward, he simultaneously unleashed a [Qi-jutsu・One Billion Severance].

With a sudden flash, the Qi-blades were released, cutting through Ken\'s [Serpentine Sword] and exploding at the same time. The blades scattered along the slash trajectory, shattering the severed magic sword into pieces.

"Tch, it\'s futile!"

However, the shattered [Serpentine Sword] instantly regenerated when Ken put his magical power into it. The shattered sword instantly regenerated and attacked Nozomu again.

The battle between the shattered sword and the Qi-blades continued. However, Ken\'s expression was gradually losing its composure.

Numerous brilliant techniques were shown by Nozomu. Even vampires who had lived for hundreds of years were amazed by these techniques.

He was supposed to be weak. He was supposed to be pathetic. He was supposed to be a loser who just crouched on the ground.

In fact, in the first year, he had been beaten so badly that he couldn\'t even stand up.

(What the hell is wrong with this bastard!? Why this is so-......)

However, he could not feel the same weakness in the current Nozomu as he did then.

Even though he was attacking with all his might, Ken could not envision a scene where his attack would reach Nozomu.

He had rarely experienced anything like this before. Even if it was against an instructor, he never felt like he could not reach him at all.

The only exception was Jihad Roundel, the only hero in Arcazam to reach the S rank .......

At that moment, Ken\'s gaze crossed with Nozomu\'s and a chill ran down his spine.

(I won\'t acknowledge it, I won\'t acknowledge it!)

He was pressured, even for a moment. Forcing that fact out of his mind, Ken swung his [Serpentine Sword].

(Ah, right, even if he became a little dexterous, the difference between us is overwhelming......)

Nozomu, whose Qi is limited by his [Ability Suppression], can hardly use his Qi in his attacks. And currently, Nozomu is not even able to get close due to Ken\'s [Serpentine Sword].

(This is it, his defeat is certain!)

Ken poured the maximum of his magic power into the [Serpentine Sword] while shouting so in his mind as if to convince himself.

The [Serpentine Sword]\'s magic power overflowed from the sword\'s body, and it accelerated at once.

The ice serpent crept up from the ground and cornered Nozomu against a large tree that was standing nearby.

"I got you!"

The [Serpentine Sword] swirled around and encircled Nozomu and the tree, blocking his escape route.

It was like being trapped in a tornado. Convinced that he had completely blocked Nozomu\'s escape route, Ken began to close the vortex of blades at once in an attempt to kill Nozomu.

"Sh~~!"

But then Nozomu made his move. Aiming at the large tree on his back, he flashed his katana at it as he turned around.

The tree was sliced diagonally across the trunk and fell to the ground, standing upright, and then fell straight down toward Ken.

"Wha~!?"

The falling tree came into contact with the vortex of blades created by Ken. The tree, while being whittled down, created a small gap at the top of the vortex.

"Fuh!"

Nozomu slipped through the gap while sprinting across the large tree. He then rushed forward as soon as he landed on the ground.

On the other hand, since Ken was manipulating the [Serpentine Sword] with his magic power, he was late in dealing with the situation, exposing a fatal gap.

"Oh, shit-......"

Ken tried to undo the swirling vortex and retrieve the [Serpentine Sword], but he was clearly too late.

Nozomu closed in at once and swung his blade down.

"Mefi! Stop him!"

"Wha~!?"

However, immediately afterward, the ground cracked and water shot out from it and wriggled like a rope, restraining Nozomu. The blade that was swung down was stopped just before it reached Ken.

[Ken, are you okay?]

"Yeah, sorry, Mefi. That Camilla, she won\'t cooperate with me."

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the air. The tone of the voice was cool like a clear stream, yet different from those uttered by humans. Then, a mass of water emerged in the air.

Then the mass of water, which made a bubbling sound, split open, revealing a girl the size of the palm of one\'s hand.

[It doesn\'t matter. You have me after all.]

"Yeah, that\'s true. Sorry."

She has the appearance of an adorable child with light blue skin.

On her back are two pairs of translucent, insect-like wings, flapping in the air.

Her appearance is clearly non-human. Above all, the majestic power that she exudes in her body reminds Nozomu of the true identity of the girl.

A spirit. The most mysterious race on this Arkmel Continent. Moreover, this light blue spirit has a clear will, and probably belongs to the [lesser spirit] among the spirits.

"She is Mefi. She is the spirit with whom I have a contract with. Here\'s the proof......."

Amidst Nozomu\'s confusion, Ken raised his left hand and a mysterious blue light began to gather in response to his magic power.

It was definitely neither Qi nor magic, but the primordial power of this world. It was the source element of water itself.

"The ability to contract with spirits. This is the power I have. This is the proof that I am the chosen one, and that I am worthy of Lisa."

[That\'s how it is! Since you\'re someone who can use the power of the spirits, it\'s only natural!]

The lesser spirit called Mefi nodded her head in agreement with Ken\'s words.

"I knew you had some kind of ability ......."

"Ability? Don\'t lump me in with something of such a low standard. I\'m the [Illegitimate Son of a Spirit], you know?"

Humans cannot form a contract with spirits. However, there is an exception to everything.

One of them is the [Illegitimate Son of a Spirit].

It is one of the exceptions that occasionally appear in the long history of the Arkmel Continent. Someone who, despite being a human being, is able to sense the spirits and make a contract with them. The scale and types of techniques that can be used by borrowing the power of spirits can no longer be compared to existing magic, and therefore, without exception, these people have greatly influenced history.

It is just like the [Dragon Slayer].

But at the same time, a question also arose in Nozomu\'s mind. With such an existence, even Shina, whose senses had been dulled, would be able to sense Ken\'s peculiarity.

"Are you perhaps wondering why that elf couldn\'t notice my power? You see. Once you become as special as I am, you\'ll have more than enough ways to fool their eyes."

[Besides, it\'s even easier if it\'s just an elf who has lost her powers! You\'re a fool for believing what such a person says~~. Kukuku.]

While Nozomu revealed his anger for having his friend mocked, Mefi slowly raised her hand while her mouth contorted into a smile.

[Compared to Ken, your existence is insignificant. Therefore......]

As soon as Mefi snapped her fingers, a shock went through the water that was restraining Nozomu.

"Ugh, gah ......!"

The reverberating and amplified shockwave struck Nozomu\'s entire body, taking away his power of resistance in one fell swoop. After confirming that he could no longer move, Mefi released his restraints. His powerless body collapsed to the ground.

"Good grief. You are more stubborn than I thought ......"

[That\'s true. Even though he is just a trash, he is still struggling. Truly unsightly ....... By the way, why weren\'t you helping us?]

"...... It wasn\'t necessary, was it?"

Mefi turned her reproachful gaze on Camilla, who had been silent for some time.

On the other hand, Camilla, while looking away from Mefi who was questioning her, was dismissive in an indifferent tone of voice.

[Hm~~ph. You\'re quite cheeky, aren\'t you?]

"Stop it, Mefi. She is a collaborator. Don\'t be rude to her."

Ken thought that Camilla was an existence that should not be disregarded, and he intervened between the two of them.

In front of such Ken, Mefi looked dissatisfied.

[But- ......]

"Don\'t worry. Just leave it to me."

Mefi, unable to hide her dissatisfaction, reluctantly backed down.

"Camilla, you and I have been cooperating for two years now. It is, of course, a mutually beneficial relationship. Though sometimes we have different intentions......"

Ken grabbed Camilla by the chin and turned her to face him.

A deep furrow was etched on his forehead as his mouth twisted into a smile.

"~, Let go of me......!"

"Even so, a contract is a contract. As long as you are my collaborator, I am willing to cooperate with you. But if you\'re going to walk away, then I don\'t have a choice ...... You know what I mean, don\'t you?"

"......Yes, I understand."

"Good. Just make sure you don\'t give me the wrong idea."

After a few seconds of silence, Camilla nodded her head, and Ken gave her a piercing glance before turning his attention back to Nozomu, who was lying on the ground.

[So Ken, what are you going to do with this guy?]

"Just throw him away. There\'s nothing he can do anyway. The demonic beast will take care of it. Well, just in case, can you tamper with his mind and memories?"

[Oka~~y! Leave it to me. Now, let\'s get this over with~~]

The spirit called Mefi looked delighted and raised her hand toward Nozomu, who was lying on the ground.

A light blue source element seeped out from her palm and enveloped Nozomu. His body trembled.

The power of the spirit is the power of the soul. It would not even be impossible to tamper with one\'s memory or mind at will.

[A~a~. Poor thing~~. But it can\'t be helped, can it~~. You lost after all~~. I feel a little bad, so I\'ll erase all those memories~~. And of course, I\'ll also erase all the memories about your most precious girl~~.]

In front of Nozomu, who was unable to move, Mefi\'s mouth contorted into a grin.

[Good for you~~. You won\'t suffer anymore~~. Instead, you\'ll become a cripple~~.]

Her innocent yet cruel smile seemed too twisted for such a mystical being.

Camilla, who had been silent in front of such a spirit, muttered something quietly.

"...... So wicked."

"You are also involved in that wickedness. I hope you are aware of that."

Camilla fell silent in response to Ken\'s words and looked down at Nozomu with a somewhat pained expression on her face.

But she quickly averted her gaze, as if to turn away from what was about to happen.

"You fucking spirit ......."

Mefi\'s eyes widen for a moment upon hearing Nozomu\'s words, and then she broke into a sadistic smile.

[A~~, you dare to speak like that~~. That\'s terrible of you~~]

"Ggh, aaaaahh!"

Mefi snapped her fingers, and the source material that enveloped Nozomu\'s body began to erode his sense of pain.

Nozomu\'s consciousness was bleached white by the pain, which felt as if countless needles were being inserted into every nerve in his body.

[Kyahahaha! This is so much fun~~!]

The way she looked at Nozomu, who was struggling, was similar to a young child who caught an insect and killed it for fun.

When he eventually stopped moving, Mefi nodded in satisfaction.

[All right, then, let\'s erase all those memories first ...... Eh?]

Just as she was about to let her power seep even deeper into Nozomu\'s memory, a strange sensation shot through Mefi\'s entire body.

"Mefi, what\'s wrong?"

[What is this, eh?]

A chill that she had never felt before. However, the gaze that peeked out from the depths of his memories was more intense than anything she had ever felt before, and it held tremendous heat hidden within it.

A heat that could obliterate her in an instant.

In the next moment, five-colored source elements erupted from Nozomu\'s body, unilaterally blasted Mefi\'s power away.

◆

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