Chapter 131.2 : Maneuvering Behind The Scene
「So your demon sword has the power to manipulate the wind element huh. Hah, now I know the reason for your sudden acceleration.」
Lucci had an unpleasant smile as he said so while their swords were locked together.
In fact the one who caused such a phenomenon wasn’t the sword, it was Rio himself but, it seems that Lucci misunderstood it by himself. Rio had a small smile in seeing the situation develop as he expected.
「You’re going to regret this」
Lucci said so with deep a seethed grudge in his tone as he resolutely swung his sword at Rio.
He leapt trying to rush Rio, he closed the distance and swung his sword at Rio in an attempt to somehow stop him in place.
But, Rio easily dodged that with graceful movement while retreating. Soon after making a gap, he tried to follow Lucci’s attack with a counter. But then, Arein rushed in from behind to land an attack at his blind spot in a pincer attack with Lucci.
But, Rio suddenly disappeared from their eyes, leaving behind a gust of wind.
「AREIN, BEHIND YOU! 」
Lucci shoutedas he guessed that Rio was going to circle behind Arein. Arein turned around immediately but he received a Rio dropkick from his side and was blown away.
「GUH…………」
Though his body blown around ten metres back, he was able to take a defensive posture to minimize the damage.
He avoided the fate of being incapacitated as he had used an artifact to strengthen his flesh. Though he managed to somehow keep standing on his feet, he was barely able to continue doing so and had an exhausted look on his face.
On the other hand, Rio adjusted his balance as he landed and set his stance with his sword without being careless about Lucci.
「CEH」
Lucci frowned as he clicked his tongue. There was no longer any chance to win against Rio alone.
「The hindrance is gone. Just surrender like a good boy, I’ll spare your life if you obediently tell me everything you know about Lucius. Now, what will you do? 」
Rio said that while overlooking his surroundings.
「HAH, you want that information so much but, our principle is to not sell any information about our superior」
It seems the two of them were trying to buy some time. Seeing that he was the only one left, he accepted the fact that he won’t be able to win against Rio. But, Lucci was bluffing and acting strong.
「In that case, I’ll ask your partner then.」 」
「FOOL. AREIN WON’T TELL YOU ANYTHING. He’d RATHER DIE THAN TELL YOU THAT INFORMATION.」 」
「I see. He’s unexpectedly a popular person huh?」 」
Rio said so with a hint of displeasure in his tone.
「Just fear you know. What, you have a grudge with our leader? 」
「……………… Not your business.」
「Hah, people like you appear once in a while. You won’t see him. In fact, many people are looking for our leader to exact their revenge. But, all of them die while regretting their lack of power. Let me to tell you, just live your life quietly. You’ll die with regret too after all.」
Lucci says that to Rio as if sneering at him.
「I won’t.」
Rio shook his head, and then closed his distance with Lucci.
「Damn…………..」
Even if he was trying to bluff his way out, he was in fact in a desperate situation. He had no chance of winning even if he were to continue battling by himself. So he thought. It was at that moment.
From the edge of his field of vision, Lucci saw a shadow of a person rapidly closing in on Rio. And then, a high pitched sound of metal clashing against each other resounded.
Before anyone noticed, a man had came to attack Rio. Rio’s sword was locked with the intruder’s sword. Rio swung his sword with all his power and sent the intruder away.
「VEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS PLACE! ? 」
After the intruder called Ven landed safely on the ground, Lucci asked him with a surprised face.
「I received an order from Reis-sama. And came as your reinforcement. It took quite a long time to look for you guys though. Nevertheless, aren’t you guys in quite a sorry state there?」
「………… SHut up. It’s that guy! 」
When Ven and Lucci were exchanging information as they set their weapons, Rio had already started to run at breakneck speed towards Arein.
Though Lucci and Ven also chased after him by reflex, they were no match for Rio.
「GA~HAH~」
Rio crossed the distance between him and Arein in an instant and made him faint with an extremely powerful elbow strike on his guts.
Lucci and Ven stopped a few metres from Rio.
「Ven, he’s looking for information about our leader but, he’s too powerful. Arein’s already done for. Let’s seal his mouth and run from this place.」
Lucci said so with a frown on his face.
But then, Ven resolutely shook his head.
「No, let’s try to buy some time as much as possible till Reis-sama arrives.」 」
「Are you kidding me……………..」
Reis’ orders were absolute but, Lucci showed a desperate expression after having experienced Rio’s power first hand.
「For you to show such a desperate expression, it seems that guy is extremely dangerous one huh.」 」
Ven had a wry smile as he glared at Rio.
「Well, yeah.」
Lucci nodded with a displeased face. Thereupon――、
「I won’t hold back anymore if you’re going to attack me you know? I just need one person.」 」
Rio told them that with an indifference voice.
Because they might kill the fainted Arein if Rio gets careless, thus he said those words as a threat.
「Unfortunately, we won’t do as you say. I hate to do this since my body will hurt all over later but………..《Hyper Physical Ability》.」
Lucci’s facial expression turned into that of an annoyed one and then he chanted the aria for physical strengthening magic. Almost at the same time, a magic formation enveloped Lucci’s whole body.
It was Lucci’s trumpcard―― Double layered physical strengthening with magic and magic tool.
Ven on his side also recited the aria for the same magic, and then the two of them ran towards Rio.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, Christina-tachi were hurrying towards the national border. They were slightly away from the highway and fortunately there was no one around them, Vanessa had taken command and they kept advancing forward.
But――,
（What is this anxiety……………..）
Vanessa felt abnormally anxious.
Just a bit more till they cross national border. Their journey starting from earl Claire territory all the way till this point had happened without being found by kingdom army.
As long as they cross the national border, Bertram kingdom’s national army won’t be able to violate the national border.
That’s why there was no problem and it won’t be strange for them to cross the national border at any moment. But then, she heard a high-pitched cry which didn’t belong to a bird coming from far above her. Which was then followed by loud flapping sound of wings, six griffons soon swept down from the sky in formation surrounding Christina-tachi.
「Stop right there. Remove your hoods and show us your face.」
The man who was on top of one of the griffons ordered so in a low tone. Christina-tachi unintentionally stopped in their place. But――、
「What the…………..」
Her face stiffened in seeing the face of the man who rode on the griffon.
「Hahaha, it really was according to Reis-dono’s information. What’s matter? Remove your hoods, now!. What are you doing in such a place away from the highway? N? 」
And then, a different man interrupted with a displeased tone.
Hearing that man’s voice, Celia’s body trembled.
「Charles, though we have yet to confirm their identity, the other party is――」
「Shut up Alfred. I know that already. That’s why we have to confirm their identity immediately. Oi, remove your hoods now!」
After being cautioned by the man called Alfred, the face of the man called Charles frowned in displeasure.
He kept grinning widely as he ordered Christina-tachi to remove their hoods.
「No way………… Why are you here? 」
Vanessa muttered in a flustered voice. The one in front of her was her own older brother, Alfred Aimar.
Celia’s face under her hood also turned pale. Because Charles Arbeau who had come with Alfred was her former fiancee.
Chapter 131.2 : Maneuvering Behind The Scene
「So your demon sword has the power to manipulate the wind element huh. Hah, now I know the reason for your sudden acceleration.」
Lucci had an unpleasant smile as he said so while their swords were locked together.
In fact the one who caused such a phenomenon wasn’t the sword, it was Rio himself but, it seems that Lucci misunderstood it by himself. Rio had a small smile in seeing the situation develop as he expected.
「You’re going to regret this」
Lucci said so with deep a seethed grudge in his tone as he resolutely swung his sword at Rio.
He leapt trying to rush Rio, he closed the distance and swung his sword at Rio in an attempt to somehow stop him in place.
But, Rio easily dodged that with graceful movement while retreating. Soon after making a gap, he tried to follow Lucci’s attack with a counter. But then, Arein rushed in from behind to land an attack at his blind spot in a pincer attack with Lucci.
But, Rio suddenly disappeared from their eyes, leaving behind a gust of wind.
「AREIN, BEHIND YOU! 」
Lucci shoutedas he guessed that Rio was going to circle behind Arein. Arein turned around immediately but he received a Rio dropkick from his side and was blown away.
「GUH…………」
Though his body blown around ten metres back, he was able to take a defensive posture to minimize the damage.
He avoided the fate of being incapacitated as he had used an artifact to strengthen his flesh. Though he managed to somehow keep standing on his feet, he was barely able to continue doing so and had an exhausted look on his face.
On the other hand, Rio adjusted his balance as he landed and set his stance with his sword without being careless about Lucci.
「CEH」
Lucci frowned as he clicked his tongue. There was no longer any chance to win against Rio alone.
「The hindrance is gone. Just surrender like a good boy, I’ll spare your life if you obediently tell me everything you know about Lucius. Now, what will you do? 」
Rio said that while overlooking his surroundings.
「HAH, you want that information so much but, our principle is to not sell any information about our superior」
It seems the two of them were trying to buy some time. Seeing that he was the only one left, he accepted the fact that he won’t be able to win against Rio. But, Lucci was bluffing and acting strong.
「In that case, I’ll ask your partner then.」 」
「FOOL. AREIN WON’T TELL YOU ANYTHING. He’d RATHER DIE THAN TELL YOU THAT INFORMATION.」 」
「I see. He’s unexpectedly a popular person huh?」 」
Rio said so with a hint of displeasure in his tone.
「Just fear you know. What, you have a grudge with our leader? 」
「……………… Not your business.」
「Hah, people like you appear once in a while. You won’t see him. In fact, many people are looking for our leader to exact their revenge. But, all of them die while regretting their lack of power. Let me to tell you, just live your life quietly. You’ll die with regret too after all.」
Lucci says that to Rio as if sneering at him.
「I won’t.」
Rio shook his head, and then closed his distance with Lucci.
「Damn…………..」
Even if he was trying to bluff his way out, he was in fact in a desperate situation. He had no chance of winning even if he were to continue battling by himself. So he thought. It was at that moment.
From the edge of his field of vision, Lucci saw a shadow of a person rapidly closing in on Rio. And then, a high pitched sound of metal clashing against each other resounded.
Before anyone noticed, a man had came to attack Rio. Rio’s sword was locked with the intruder’s sword. Rio swung his sword with all his power and sent the intruder away.
「VEN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THIS PLACE! ? 」
After the intruder called Ven landed safely on the ground, Lucci asked him with a surprised face.
「I received an order from Reis-sama. And came as your reinforcement. It took quite a long time to look for you guys though. Nevertheless, aren’t you guys in quite a sorry state there?」
「………… SHut up. It’s that guy! 」
When Ven and Lucci were exchanging information as they set their weapons, Rio had already started to run at breakneck speed towards Arein.
Though Lucci and Ven also chased after him by reflex, they were no match for Rio.
「GA~HAH~」
Rio crossed the distance between him and Arein in an instant and made him faint with an extremely powerful elbow strike on his guts.
Lucci and Ven stopped a few metres from Rio.
「Ven, he’s looking for information about our leader but, he’s too powerful. Arein’s already done for. Let’s seal his mouth and run from this place.」
Lucci said so with a frown on his face.
But then, Ven resolutely shook his head.
「No, let’s try to buy some time as much as possible till Reis-sama arrives.」 」
「Are you kidding me……………..」
Reis’ orders were absolute but, Lucci showed a desperate expression after having experienced Rio’s power first hand.
「For you to show such a desperate expression, it seems that guy is extremely dangerous one huh.」 」
Ven had a wry smile as he glared at Rio.
「Well, yeah.」
Lucci nodded with a displeased face. Thereupon――、
「I won’t hold back anymore if you’re going to attack me you know? I just need one person.」 」
Rio told them that with an indifference voice.
Because they might kill the fainted Arein if Rio gets careless, thus he said those words as a threat.
「Unfortunately, we won’t do as you say. I hate to do this since my body will hurt all over later but………..《Hyper Physical Ability》.」
Lucci’s facial expression turned into that of an annoyed one and then he chanted the aria for physical strengthening magic. Almost at the same time, a magic formation enveloped Lucci’s whole body.
It was Lucci’s trumpcard―― Double layered physical strengthening with magic and magic tool.
Ven on his side also recited the aria for the same magic, and then the two of them ran towards Rio.
◇ ◇ ◇
Meanwhile, Christina-tachi were hurrying towards the national border. They were slightly away from the highway and fortunately there was no one around them, Vanessa had taken command and they kept advancing forward.
But――,
（What is this anxiety……………..）
Vanessa felt abnormally anxious.
Just a bit more till they cross national border. Their journey starting from earl Claire territory all the way till this point had happened without being found by kingdom army.
As long as they cross the national border, Bertram kingdom’s national army won’t be able to violate the national border.
That’s why there was no problem and it won’t be strange for them to cross the national border at any moment. But then, she heard a high-pitched cry which didn’t belong to a bird coming from far above her. Which was then followed by loud flapping sound of wings, six griffons soon swept down from the sky in formation surrounding Christina-tachi.
「Stop right there. Remove your hoods and show us your face.」
The man who was on top of one of the griffons ordered so in a low tone. Christina-tachi unintentionally stopped in their place. But――、
「What the…………..」
Her face stiffened in seeing the face of the man who rode on the griffon.
「Hahaha, it really was according to Reis-dono’s information. What’s matter? Remove your hoods, now!. What are you doing in such a place away from the highway? N? 」
And then, a different man interrupted with a displeased tone.
Hearing that man’s voice, Celia’s body trembled.
「Charles, though we have yet to confirm their identity, the other party is――」
「Shut up Alfred. I know that already. That’s why we have to confirm their identity immediately. Oi, remove your hoods now!」
After being cautioned by the man called Alfred, the face of the man called Charles frowned in displeasure.
He kept grinning widely as he ordered Christina-tachi to remove their hoods.
「No way………… Why are you here? 」
Vanessa muttered in a flustered voice. The one in front of her was her own older brother, Alfred Aimar.
Celia’s face under her hood also turned pale. Because Charles Arbeau who had come with Alfred was her former fiancee.
