Volume 2
Chapter 131.2
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 .