“Cartia.”
A completely changed tone of voice, layered with emotion.
With this, Frey showed her third transformation.
THUD-
She effortlessly blocked my outstretched fist.
Of course, her stance was unstable.
There was a lack of strength as well.
If she were to burst my head or break my neck, Cartia’s plans would go up in smoke.
But… even so, I never imagined she could block so easily.
Surely, Frey was thinking of nothing but offense, but how could she transition between attacks and defenses so quickly?
It was fascinating. And strangely familiar.
I hadn’t closely observed her movements since she had been thrown away, but comparing her last stance with the present result, it mirrored Cartia’s mysterious combat style perfectly.
DESCEND- Finally, her body floated in the air and landed in a flower field. Still, her fist was caught by Frey. I cautiously prepared to pull Frey up.
‘Am I back…?’
[Not sure yet… but one thing’s certain, it’s nothing like before. Plus, the way she called my name… it’s just like that woman—]
“She really resembles her… hmm?”
A sudden harsh voice interrupted Cartia’s words. It was a different tone from earlier. It was the same voice as the being who Cartia had called a fake Frey.
I immediately pulled Frey up and swung toward the voice’s owner. Not to strike, but to create distance.
I didn’t know Frey’s condition accurately, so I couldn’t just attack blindly. It was also too dangerous to stay too close.
Therefore, my unstable and vulnerable sword was swung, but I didn’t care. I had plenty of options to use if needed. I’ve become a body that could react in such desperate situations.
SWISH- The edge of the sword shot up toward Frey. The speed was fast. It was hard to tell if it was to cut or to create distance.
But Frey followed the trajectory with her eyes. Then, with a click of her tongue, she pushed me back—THUD-
As a result, Frey crossed the air and stopped right before my feet. At the same time, DESCEND- in an instant, Frey grabbed my collar.
Cartia drew a surprised breath. I did too. But Frey didn’t care and started shaking me around by my collar.
“Oof…!”
I reached out a fist to Frey’s erratic behavior. At the same time, I swung my great sword to ensure my fist wouldn’t get caught again. Frey’s body reflexively reacted to that. Feeling it, I unleashed my blood aura.
THUD- The hand gripping my collar loosened. Frey’s leg swung out lazily, creating distance between us.
[Crazy woman, what the hell are you doing…?]
Frey groped her chest.
Touching the outfit that was tidied up enough that the skin couldn’t be felt.
In such a situation, she was… fixing her clothes…?
[…Seems like she’s really Frey?]
Hope grew in Cartia’s voice, stronger than before. I felt a surge of emotion that made me want to leap forward.
Could a close friend recognize something like this?
“…Is it really Frey?”
“Add ‘Sir’ to that. How rude.”
In response to my question, Frey clicked her tongue, seeming genuinely offended, then looked down to inspect her attire.
Then, with a face that seemed to be cursing sharply, she started undoing the heavy armor that surrounded her body.
Once all the armor was thrown off, Frey tidied her sweaty hair and scanned the surroundings.
After glancing around several times, Frey finally took a deep breath and lifted her lips slightly.
“…That Cartia.”
[Yeah. That’s really Frey. Ha, damn.]
Even if my senses were sharper than others, I couldn’t read the emotions in her eyes.
But right now, I could feel Frey’s emotions even to that extent.
Not just in her eyes, but her entire face was painted with every emotion.
Excitement, happiness, delight, joy, elation.
Anticipation.
Such feelings.
The face of Frey, encapsulating the emotions of a person who regained her freedom, made both Cartia and me feel stuffy.
Just then.
Frey’s face, filled with interest, turned toward me. At the same time, she drew the great sword lodged beside her and spoke in a voice resembling Cartia’s laughter.
“What are you staring at, you damn woman?”
“Uh…”
It seemed directed at me, but no, it wasn’t.
Frey’s gaze, that feeling, was directed at Cartia, who was behind me.
‘C-Cartia can see…?’
[Even if she can’t see, she can probably feel it. That woman and I—]
In that moment.
WHOOSH- Countless flower petals scattered away where Frey was standing.
[Noah!]
With Cartia’s shout, SQUEAK- the sharp killing intent contained in the great sword was swung. Immediately, gripping the hilt with all my strength, I swung up, trying to deflect it. CRACK- I swung to repel it, but it didn’t budge. Frey’s sword contained an unbelievably heavy force.
“Can you take this?”
Frey’s mouth curled into a smirk. The killing intent within her sword intensified. Just touching it felt like my entire body would be sliced apart by it. I twisted my body, dispersing my blood aura to shake it off. DESCEND- At the same time, I leaped back, widening the gap between Frey and me.
Even so, that dreadful killing intent still circled around me.
The nature of the killing intent had changed.
While before it felt like a sticky and unpleasant monster, now it felt like a finely honed blade.
Moreover, that already heavy sword had become exponentially heavier. I could barely fend it off with all my strength.
Why the sudden change?
If Frey was indeed Cartia’s friend, she shouldn’t have a reason to be this aggressive… had Frey’s consciousness not fully returned?
[No, it is definitely the Frey I know.]
‘Then why…?’
Before I could hear Cartia’s answer, SPLAT- once again flower petals flew everywhere. In the midst of them, Frey swung her sword, aiming for my neck like a beast’s fang.
I immediately focused on my breath and scattered my great sword. CRACK-!
With a roar, the force of the clash echoed, and Frey’s knee shot forward. I elbowed down on her knee, pushing back against the great sword that was pressing against me.
CRUNCH- Again, flowers scattered as the distance between Frey and me increased.
I caught my breath and surveyed the area.
New flowers bloomed beneath the crushed and uprooted ones from Frey and me. If it hadn’t been for those continuously blooming flowers, I undoubtedly would not have been able to keep up with Frey’s movements.
Did Frey think the same? She cast an annoyed gaze at the incessantly blooming flowers.
“If it weren’t for these flowers, you would have been crawling on the ground long ago.”
Frey spat the insulting words with a smug expression.
“No, if you were only crawling on the ground, you’d be lucky. You might have been crying and clinging on as well.”
CHUCKLE- That laugh was just like Cartia’s.
An expression, a stance, exactly like Cartia.
“That’s just how it is.”
The tip of Frey’s sword pointed toward Cartia behind me.
“Having learned from a garbage teacher wielding a garbage sword, it’s obviously expected that an equally garbage disciple is formed.”
SPLAT- Again, flower petals scattered.
Not from Frey, but from my feet.
A predictable provocation.
I accepted it.
The way the tip of the great sword narrowly flicked around, spoke of something else.
That’s why I drew my great sword blade out.
I burst forth with the killing intent I had been holding back.
Wrapping around me was the blood aura, dispersing was the coldness.
Gathering the surrounding feathers, I ignited the flames of hell.
CRACK-!
A terrifying roar erupted as our swords clashed. The ensuing shockwave cut into our skin, spilling drops of blood.
At the same time, just as I expected.
‘Wow, I thought she was a flowerbed-headed brat. But she gets it, huh?’
Frey’s voice flowed through the clash of the swords.
Her tone was completely different; lighter and more frivolous than Cartia’s.
‘Anyway, that’s great. I had things to say to you and Cartia.’
Me… and Cartia?
Before I could let out a question mingled with confusion, Frey’s fist assaulted me, bursting the droplets of blood floating in the air. I twisted my body to dodge her punch. Following that movement, I spun around—BANG!-
Again, a sharp sound resonated. And Frey’s voice echoed once more.
‘With more ears listening, it gets tiring, so just shut up and listen. Manage your expression well.’
BOOM- CRASH- KAAANG-!
‘It’s hard to explain since my memories are jumbled. Well, just listen and get it.’
Once she finished that sentence, Frey’s sword surged forth incessantly. It was a desperate assault that left no room for conversation.
It was close. Keeping up with her speed was hard enough, and now I had to deflect her attacks without showing any openings.
In contrast, Frey swung her sword wildly, not caring at all. With each swing, little cuts appeared on both of us.
‘Oh, and. Seriously, come at me. If you notice I’m acting, who knows what Aaron might do. Well, I already suspect that something feels off. But what can I do? I have to keep pretending until the end.’
I felt the cold sweat trickling down my back while concentrating on Frey’s voice.
‘First, my soul isn’t completely freed. I don’t know what kind of madman it was, but he made a huge scar in this world. If you look closely, it’s shaped like a fist… Anyway, that’s how I came out for just a moment.’
The heavy pressure of Frey’s sword weighing down on me felt heavier. I didn’t know if it was due to her power, her emotions, or something else.
It felt incredibly heavy for me to bear.
‘Second, what’s gnawing at my soul is that nameless fucking thing you guys have been talking about. No matter the fuss you make, this will never fall away or be cut.’
Frey’s sword swung out. It was similar to Cartia’s, but much faster and stronger than hers.
She executed moves with a great sword that should have been impossible, as naturally as breathing.
The blindingly mesmerizing sword movements flitted around mercilessly.
More refined techniques erupted than before.
While executing barely any defense against it, I searched for anything odd in her words.
…How does she know what we were talking about?
‘That’s right. That’s the third point.’
The tip of Frey’s sword trembled slightly.
‘No matter how much you hold your breath or lower your voice, that nameless creature was listening from start to finish.’
A weak distortion emerged in her once-perfect form.
‘So, go ahead and kill me.’
Kill me—
‘After tearing my soul to shreds, completely obliterate me from this world.’
If that happens…
‘You might just delay the descent of the nameless one, even if just for a moment.’
