Yuuji halts his sudden rampage at my words.
Just like the light novel protagonist he is, his emotions keep overpowering his rationality, and I can feel my blood boiling.
Just say it already.
“Get out of the way while I’m being nice, League’s minion.”
Yuuji speaks in a voice that drips with refined anger.
“What a tear-jerking friendship and camaraderie. But unfortunately for you, the lovely Miss Muramasa has ordered me to keep this place secure, so I can’t let you both leave.”
The grotesque greatsword of the Manhunter pulsates with brown magical energy.
Along with that, dozens of hulking monster-like beings appear behind him.
Monsters.
“Damn it…”
He’s really serious about this.
Honestly, it’s not impossible to break through.
But the problem is the lack of time.
Muramasa’s intention must be either to buy time or to disperse our forces.
It must be one of those two.
With the Blue House Underground Bunker’s survivability uncertain and no clue when Muramasa might find it, there’s no time to tussle with the Manhunter and these monsters.
So, I need to leave the Manhunter to Yuuji and go face Muramasa myself.
Because I’m the only one who can handle her.
The issue is persuading this protagonist who loses his rationality every time I mention his little sister.
I’m already feeling overwhelmed.
I might as well give it a shot.
“Hey, Kurosawa. I think we need to split our forces here. The more we delay, the harder it will be to save your sister…”
“Are you saying you’ll go underground to find Haru, Kim?”
Yuuji cuts me off.
Why is he suddenly so quick on the uptake at times like this?
I mean, it’s nice, but it feels ominous.
He approaches and pats my shoulder.
Ah, why is he getting all touchy again?
Chills run down my spine.
“Kim, I trust you.”
Yuuji smiles.
“If it’s you, my true hero and friend… I can trust you with my sister. So please, leave this to me and go underground first. Once you’re down there….”
Yuuji’s dark eyes sparkle.
“Save Haru. You must.”
It’s that serious gaze of the protagonist I’ve seen countless times in anime.
I shouldn’t need to persuade him, but I have no idea why he trusts me so much.
This is the problem with being a pushover.
Anyway, I had to save Kurosawa Haru, so I nodded at his words.
“Okay.”
“I’ll leave Haru to you.”
“Please take care of it.”
Hearing Yuji’s request, I kicked off the ground and activated flight mode to soar into the sky.
It’s time to meet Muramasa, or rather, Kurosawa Haru.
*
“Where do you think you’re going, Kim Deok-Sung!”
After finishing my conversation with Yuji, just as Manhunter was about to take off at the sight of Kim Deok-Sung escaping the battlefield—
KABOOM!
A transparent magic wave exploded against the magic barrier over Manhunter’s gauntlet.
“Guh?!”
Manhunter’s face twisted in pain.
This was my chance to catch both Kim Deok-Sung and Kurosawa Yuji for a big score, but I lost the opportunity due to an unexpected intervention.
“YAAAARRR!”
“GRROOOOOWWWW!”
Mirroring Manhunter’s dismay, the monsters roared with glowing red eyes.
Yuji, the one who unleashed the magic wave, coldly glared at Manhunter.
“What are you looking at? Manhunter. Your opponent is me.”
New World League.
Ten years ago, this villain organization massacred his family and brainwashed his sister for their schemes.
Yuji had no intention of ever forgiving them.
And that sentiment was shared by the man before him, Manhunter.
“Looks like a rookie is hurrying to his doom.”
Manhunter snarled.
He pressed the button on the lighter-shaped device he was holding.
“Die quietly. Son of the Sword Master.”
The moment Manhunter finished speaking—
“YAAAARRR!”
The red light in the eyes of the monsters lined up behind him intensified.
Empowered by the monster signal, the enraged creatures charged at Yuji with violent magical energy wrapped around their bodies.
Dozens of muscular humanoid monstrosities rushed forward, releasing a fierce magical wave, yet Yuji remained unperturbed.
Yuji raised his signature weapon, the Kusunagi no Tsurugi.
Explosive, colorless magic soared from his magic core, spreading in all directions through the blade of the Kusunagi no Tsurugi.
Thump, thump.
Yuji’s magic core heated up.
His gift, magic amplification, awakened.
“Kurosawa Shin Ken-ryū── 6th Style.”
Exponentially amplified colorless magic enveloped the blade.
Pzzzzt!
Sparks flew.
“Flying Sword, Thousand Waves!”
With a dazzling swing of the Kusunagi no Tsurugi, a shockwave erupted.
K-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The waves of colorless magical energy filled the space, shredding through the monsters’ magical barriers and tearing flesh apart.
“YAAAARRR!”
“GRAAAAHHH!”
The tormented cries echoed throughout the devastated Blue House grounds.
The charred lawn was splattered with torn monster flesh and blood.
With a single strike.
In one blow, Yuji decimated a third of the monsters and rendered the others incapable of fighting and immediately leaped into the air.
Swish.
Yuji smoothly sheathed his katana.
“Kurosawa Shin Ken-ryū── 2nd Style!”
GROOOOOOWWWWW.
Formless magical energy spread from Yuji’s entire body.
Continuously rising, near-infinite magic concentrated in the sheath and sword.
Yuji’s eyes spotted Manhunter.
Having dispatched the monsters much faster than anticipated, he sensed a fleeting opening.
Yuji’s instincts wouldn’t miss even the smallest gap in his opponent’s defense.
“No way.”
“Solar Slash!”
Kurosawa Yuji unsheathes Kusunagi.
Flash!
A burst of light explodes from the sheath.
At the same time, Yuji’s katana accelerates and shoots forward, powered by explosive magical energy.
The sword technique of Kurosawa’s new sword style that supposedly can even bring down the sun.
The vision skill that has taken the lives of countless otherworldly beings and villains is now being replicated in the hands of the sword master’s son.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A beam of light crashes down on Manhunter.
An unavoidable strike.
Even if the opponent is an S-rank villain, he wouldn’t be able to properly defend against this blow.
Just as Yuji was preparing for his next attack with that conviction…
“Is this all the sword master’s son can do?”
Whooooom!
The greatsword in Manhunter’s hand vibrates ominously.
“Troldsvberg, True Name Release—The Bloodied Giant’s Greatsword.”
As he speaks in a chilling voice, a sinister magical energy billows from the sword’s blade.
Amidst it all, his eyes flicker like will-o’-the-wisps.
Just before Yuji’s sword reaches him…
In a split second, Manhunter activates his reflexes.
As the True Name Release completes, he raises the ominous greatsword high.
Clang!
Kusunagi’s blade gets caught in the serrated edge of Troldsvberg.
Boom!
Colorless and dark brown.
A shockwave and backdraft erupt as immense magical energies collide.
The once beautifully arranged trees of the Blue House garden shatter, and the grass is ripped apart.
The bare earth erupts in all directions.
“It’s over. Sword Master’s son.”
Grinning.
In the center of the destruction, Manhunter laughs.
The grillz on his teeth gleam in the sunlight.
Yuji’s eyes waver.
It was unexpected that the opponent defended against his attack.
But that’s all it is.
With this status, a counterattack…
“Wha— Gah!”
Just then.
A groan escapes from Yuji’s mouth.
Mysterious magical energy surges into his body through Kusunagi, slicing through his magical circuits.
“Cough!”
Blood trickles from Yuji’s mouth as he suffers internal injuries.
His handsome face twists in agony as if it is being torn apart.
“You…”
“Realized it now? Slow, Sword Master’s son. So slow.”
Manhunter sneers.
Clink!
The serrated teeth of the greatsword move, restraining Kusunagi’s blade.
“The ability of my original weapon, Troldsvberg’s True Name Release ‘The Bloodied Giant’s Greatsword,’ is to infiltrate magical blades into the opponent’s body when the swords clash.”
Whooooom!
In sync with Manhunter’s cheerful explanation, the giant’s greatsword vibrates.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
As the magical blades infiltrating Yuji’s body tear him apart from the inside, a horrendous scream mixes with his intense pain.
“In other words, the moment you clashed swords with me, you were practically dead. That’s your mistake! How foolish! Sword Master’s son! Hahahahahaha!!”
Manhunter cackles while swinging the greatsword.
Whoosh!
The shockwave from the blast devastates the surroundings.
Clank!
As the serrated teeth release Kusunagi, Yuji’s battered body is violently tossed to the ground.
He is thrown roughly against the ground.
“Ugh!”
A groan escapes Yuji’s lips as he hits the dirt.
“Cough, cough!”
Blood flows from Yuji’s mouth.
His vision is stained red with blood.
Dizziness sets in.
Yuji’s hands tremble uncontrollably.
It hurts.
It hurts like hell.
He needs to keep fighting, but his injured body refuses to listen, like a broken machine.
Yuji’s hands tremble.
He’s powerless.
“The famous Son of the Sword Master isn’t anything special. Ha, was I too tense? Spit.”
The Manhunter approaches, spitting on the ground.
A violent wave of magical shockwaves emanates from the great sword slung over his shoulder.
“Anyway, good. I’ll offer your life to the Master. Son of the Sword Master.”
A twisted smile curves on the Manhunter’s lips.
Kurosawa Yuji.
Son of the Sword Master and possessor of colorless magic.
To eliminate his potential before his talent blooms and he can challenge the Messiah.
That is the Master’s goal.
If he takes Kurosawa Yuji’s life, the Master will greatly reward him.
The Manhunter’s body shakes with excitement as he dreams of a rosy future.
“This is the end.”
The Manhunter’s voice whispers in Yuji’s ear as he lies face down on the ground.
He has to move.
He must.
His hand barely stretches out and just grazes the hilt of Kusunagi no Tsurugi.
But that’s all.
He can’t move any further.
The magical blade that swept through his body has slashed his magical circuits, preventing him from properly channeling his magic.
“Cough!”
Yuji’s vision fades.
A deep sense of despair washes over him.
The horrific memories of that day ten years ago flood back.
Kurosawa Mansion burned, his mother died, and even his seemingly invincible father died at the hands of the Messiah to save him.
He vowed.
He would take his revenge.
So he hid his strength, enrolled in the academy, and trained to face the League.
“Is this… the end… here?”
But that’s all.
He can’t even wield a sword properly now.
What kind of Son of the Sword Master am I? What is revenge?
It’s pathetic.
Foolish.
He realizes he is still far from enough; he’s still immature.
Even after being told to calm down, he just acted emotionally again, right now.
This is the price of immaturity.
And so, he will die.
A hollow laugh escapes Yuji’s lips.
At that moment.
[…So, are you really going to give up everything like this?]
A voice like an echo rings in Yuji’s head.
──It was a voice more beautiful than anything in the world.
The most wonderful man in the world.
Give up.
Hearing that, life returns to Yuji’s eyes.
‘Haru and I will save you, Kurosawa Yuji.’
The voice of Kim Deok-Sung resounds in his mind.
That’s right.
They promised.
To save together.
In front of that true hero, the most wonderful man in the world, Yuji had sworn.
“Leave this to me.”
So he can’t give up.
No, giving up was impossible from the start.
Giving up would be a betrayal of his vow for family revenge and a betrayal of the man who believed in him.
He cannot betray that trust.
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