In the epic that records the life of a hero, the heroes’ fight is often described as ‘beautiful.’
The way they swing their swords is beautiful, the way they step forward is beautiful, their resolve is beautiful, and their expressions that never distort even in pain are beautiful.
However, Sylvia’s fighting was not the kind that could be described so simply.
Sylvia’s battle was desperate.
There was hardly any time to observe the fight from the first floor to the second, but the sounds of gunfire, screams, and flesh being ripped apart from the second floor, which was wide open, made it hard to look away.
Even after being hit by incoming attacks several times, she doesn’t stagger. It’s as if she already knew this would happen, putting herself in such a way to minimize damage while continuing the fight. Every step seems calculated; she stops just before an attack lands, takes out another gun, changes magazines, and rolls to the side.
During our time at the academy, we often listen to such discussions.
If the heroes from ancient epics met a modern battalion armed with guns, could they survive? Students humorously concluded that no matter what, they couldn’t dodge the steam-powered tanks and machine gun fire raining down from the skies.
In some ways, Sylvia’s fighting seems to accurately depict that conclusion.
But for Alice, who had to watch the fight from a distance, it didn’t simply seem like a difference in skill.
The armor Sylvia wore was cutting-edge military gear that the Empire’s army hadn’t introduced—perhaps they didn’t even know it existed—and the guns she carried represented the precision of modern industry, but facing knights rushing at her from all directions while armed was a completely different story.
Especially when it wasn’t a matter of engaging them from hundreds of meters away; she was diving right into the fray.
In a situation like that, it didn’t matter what weapon she held.
Without any change in her expression, Sylvia eliminated enemies without so much as blinking.
Alice, too, had opponents to face, so she couldn’t keep watching that spectacle. But every time she glanced up, the number of enemies decreased.
Sylvia stood firm, bleeding from various wounds, not collapsing until the end.
—Alice vaguely sensed Sylvia’s capabilities.
If so, just how many times had Sylvia attacked within that time? How many times had she fallen, how many times—
“……”
At some point, the battle suddenly came to a halt.
The Gryphon knelt unexpectedly. The knights charging towards Alice and her group paused, momentarily confused, halting their sword swings.
“Not yet! Keep your swords up—”
What happened above was unclear, but even after the Gryphon was incapacitated, victory belonged to the Order of Knights.
No matter how skilled these friends were, they were still students. There was no way they could win against professional killers with such a close count.
Yet—
A hole suddenly appeared in the chest of the knight who was shouting with his sword raised. It was a flaming hole. The knight collapsed forward without even being able to spit out blood, dead.
Alice looked up to the upper floor.
There stood Sylvia, who had sustained numerous wounds but remained proud and unyielding.
Sitting steadily, aiming a rifle as tall as herself downwards, Sylvia spoke.
“That’s right. It’s not over yet.”
Her tone was quiet, as if she genuinely believed that.
“If you want it to end, you should charge all the way. But for now… I would advise you to just admit that you’ve lost.”
But the words that followed were a declaration.
If they didn’t surrender here, everyone present would end up like that knight.
Despite Sylvia being battered, blood running down her forehead, and unable to open one eye because of the blood trickling down, the confidence in her voice was so strong that Alice didn’t doubt her words.
And it seemed everyone here shared the same sentiment.
Clang, the sound of a metal bar dropping to the ground.
Twice, three times, and finally, until all the knights of the Papal State dropped their swords.
Sylvia remained unfazed, looking down from above.
Suddenly, Alice thought that if Sylvia had eagle wings sprouting from her back, nobody would find it odd.
*
Alright.
To be honest, considering the situation, it wasn’t all that great, but for now, she decided to think of it as good.
Not a single one of her party had died, nor was anyone gravely injured to the point of permanent disability.
It was a result of thoroughly focusing on defense without breaking formation as they stuck together.
The plan itself had gone somewhat awry because of my reckless charge. The Gryphon’s wings were not cut, and Alice and Charlotte were left behind, unable to leap upwards.
But there was no real need to have cut the wings. Perhaps they had anticipated the moment when they lost control of the Gryphon. Its wings were already broken. Well, to be fair, other parts weren’t in great shape either, so it would’ve been odd if only the wings remained intact.
Huh.
Thinking back on it, it made me chuckle. The king of beasts, a powerful being that nobody could tame, was somehow being controlled even just one of them by the Papal State.
Whether this Gryphon was a young specimen or captured in its youth, that was unknown—
—But it is known.
“Grrr…”
As I pulled out the blood-soaked bandage I had crammed into the Cardinal’s mouth, he finally took a breath. I’d managed to pull it out with my fingers, but I couldn’t avoid the thick and unpleasant mixture of my blood and the Cardinal’s saliva that oozed out.
I tossed it quickly into a corner, crouched down, and looked directly into the Cardinal’s eyes.
He didn’t ask me to kill him or say anything ridiculous like he would never say a word. I didn’t much care though; after all, I had all the time in the world.
“I have a few questions I’d like to ask. Will you cooperate?”
I asked quietly, but the Cardinal merely trembled, looking at me with fearful eyes.
Hmm.
I glanced at the Cardinal’s legs. He should be recovered enough to walk by now. It shouldn’t hurt that much anymore.
His severed arm wouldn’t grow back, but that was unavoidable. I had lost my hand during the fight all the same; he had to bear that much.
Deciding to take his silence as a confirmation, I continued to ask.
“What was the reason for your presence underneath here? If you were contemplating war with the Emperor, you could have just positioned yourselves near the Empire’s border rather than in Lutetia.”
To be honest, maybe I could have even joined forces with Countess Crowfield. With her, betrayal of the Emperor would be second nature. Sure, they would have needed to tie up loose ends afterward, but…
“……That’s…”
The Cardinal tried to answer but then shut his mouth.
Speak!
But scared to say it.
That dual emotion appeared in his eyes simultaneously.
“I—”
So, I decided to help prompt his response.
“I have some knowledge of how to persuade others. But if I ask if you are confident in that skill, you might struggle to answer properly. It could lead to… a fail in regulating the effort. If you lose your mind in the process, it could take time for you to come back to your senses.”
The Cardinal’s eyes turned to Sophia, pleading for help, but she simply lowered her gaze and said nothing.
“What will it be? A long conversation or a short one? Choose one. Now that the fighting is over, I bear no ill will toward you.”
Honestly, I found it cumbersome to linger here any longer.
“……”
After making eye contact with me, the Cardinal then looked towards the knights, but their situation was equally grim. All of them were tied up and muzzled.
In the end, the light of resignation appeared in the Cardinal’s eyes.
“……The reason we are here—”
But since nothing ever goes smoothly in this world.
As soon as the Cardinal opened his mouth to say that, he coughed and blood spewed out.
I guess the Papal State would know how to control the Gryphon.
They probably know a thing or two about silencing someone.
I let out a deep sigh.
Again.
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