Chapter 295: Izumo’s Resolve, Haruka’s Resolve

“You can still stand, huh.” (Haruka)

Only one boy remained, supported by a staff and a katana. Looking at the boy, Haruka let out a heavy sigh.

The words that followed held no mockery, only confusion.

Even now, the boy’s eyes still held a fierce resolve.

That boy was Izumo Ikusabe.

Jin and Daena were overwhelmed by the difference in technique, yet they fought bravely. Without forgetting their teamwork with the backlines, they resolutely faced an enemy they couldn’t defeat with their own abilities.

Amelia and Sif also made no mistakes. Rather, they displayed a miraculous fight. These girls, whose strength surpassed their actual abilities, deserved commendation.

Misura, with his special ability and tenacious spirit, exposed his body to Haruka’s attacks to the bitter end.

And then there was Yuno. She learned various things from Misura amidst the battle, becoming a tough shield for the backlines and coordinating with them to increase firepower.

Iroha, the wielder of Ein-Khalif, or rather, the one who fought with it as her proxy, also lasted until her final attack.

Maintaining such a strong heart until then also deserves praise.

The failure of the wave attack had severed her connection with Ein-Khalif, and she lost consciousness, but no one could blame her. The Ein-Khalif in her hands had returned to its normal sword form and lay still.

A secluded girl like her, unfamiliar with the battlefield, managed to remain conscious for so long because of Izumo’s presence.

Due to Haruka’s relentless attacks, Iroha’s bodyguards—Akashi and Yuduki—as well as Shougetsu, had already fallen.

This situation could be described in many ways.

Annihilated.

Crushing defeat.

Only one backline magician remained standing, but aside from that, no one else was left.

The others were still alive—but unconscious.

Their lives and deaths were already in Haruka’s grasp.

“That…just a while ago was…everything you had, but…are you telling me you still have more to show me?” (Haruka)

‘That.’

The ‘that’ Haruka referred to was the attack Jin and the others had poured their all into.

The few seconds the frontline gained by risking their bodies, Amelia used to cast enhancement magic on Sif’s combined element magic.

Yuno utilized that power to unleash a powerful move, ‘Red Salamander.’

After shouting, “If we can’t bring you down from above, we will break you from below!” Sif’s combined element magic transformed Yuno and Juuki’s armor, but this powerful combo technique was deflected by Haruka.

Facing Haruka’s retaliation, Juuki was completely destroyed, and no one had the leeway to catch the falling Yuno. There was also no one who could oppose Haruka summoning mamonos from the sky.

And so, it leads to now.

“That’s why you pushed to end us…like toys you’ve grown bored of.” (Izumo)

“‘Toys you’ve grown bored of,’ quite the self-deprecating way of speaking.” (Haruka)

“…Don’t underestimate us.” (Izumo)

“…”

“Don’t underestimate us! What’s with this!! We…we were doing our very best! Even if you are stronger, I will never forgive an act like making fun of them!” (Izumo)

“Make fun of them? I had no such intentions, child of the Ikusabe military family. Just that—” (Haruka)

“My comrades and I had resolve in this fight!!” (Izumo)

“That’s simply delirious talk from the weak.” (Haruka)

“!!”

“I had no obligation to answer to your resolve.” (Haruka)

“Why…? Aren’t you a warrior?! Is ridiculing those who do their best something a warrior would do?! I’ve been taught no such thing! Not by my sword master, my magic master, or anyone in my household. And I take pride in that!” (Izumo)

Izumo’s expression contorted in anger.

Even Iroha had chosen to clash blades with her mother.

Izumo wouldn’t allow anyone to dare say there was no resolve in that.

He wouldn’t let that happen.

The Ein-Khalif attack she used was vicious. Leaving aside how much Iroha herself controlled it, it was an attack showing absolutely no restraint.

Her expression also showed no hesitation. She faced the attack on her mother with a strong face, without a single sign of bitterness.

Izumo was deeply moved by Iroha’s strong resolve.

“I definitely won’t acknowledge you!” (Izumo)

“Stop it already. There’s no way you don’t know that you’ve been draining your life force to wring out magic power, right? No matter how much power you bring out, I can summon mamonos to serve as shields and mamonos to interrupt your aria. It’s an ability said to have been used by the Wise Tokito-sama, called Hyakki Yagyo.” (Haruka)

“I know, you can use it as a Rebound Person. That doesn’t matter anymore.” (Izumo)

Izumo also understands.

Osakabe Haruka is a Rebound Person. Moreover, an abnormal Rebound Person possessing several Wise powers.

She might even be stronger than a Wise.

But even if that’s the case, Izumo has absolutely no intention of changing his plans.

“…If you still have something you want to do, go ahead.” (Haruka)

“…”

“If that’s the way you want to use your life, go ahead. Do it.” (Haruka)

“…Is that your way of pity?” (Izumo)

Izumo gripped his staff and katana.

He was unleashing dangerous magic power from within, shaping it.

“Fighting is by no means something I find fun. What role did God give to me when it granted these many powers to this body…?” (Haruka)

Haruka showed no trace of feeling danger.

“Then watch. I will show you now what lies beyond the power of a military household!” (Izumo)

Finishing his calculations, he spread many fragments of aria.

Multiple magic activation, a technique passed down and classified as a special move by the military family.

(Fourteen activations of ‘Garuda Tempest’ and four ‘Dust Wings’. It should look beautiful.) (Izumo)

Fully aware of what will follow, Izumo gathers more aria fragments.

“Well, leave that for later, okay?”

A voice suddenly echoed.

But it wasn’t an unfamiliar voice to Izumo. Or rather, the moment Izumo heard it, he felt as if all his strength would vanish from relief.

—A voice he had eagerly awaited.

“…Wa?”

The voice Haruka heard right in front of her was from someone Izumo knew.

The dumbfounded voice he let out was a reaction to seeing the shining needle pierce Haruka’s neck.

“Who goes there!” (Haruka)

“Woah now.”

Ignoring Izumo, Haruka’s naginata left a shimmering trail as she turned, but the person easily jumped away from it and stood between Izumo and Haruka.

“Sensei?” (Izumo)

“Yeah.” (Makoto)

The quest has been accomplished.

Even if this was the result of their being underestimated, no one died.

‘Ah, with this, I can let go of my consciousness,’ Izumo thought as his knees hit the ground.

It must have also been the backlash of him exploding with the most anger he had ever felt in his life until now.

But, sadly, their Sensei wouldn’t be easy-going.

“Sensei. Then…you are Raidou?” (Haruka)

Haruka’s state completely changed.

Bloodlust, chilling to the bone, erupted from her entire body in an instant.

The magic power needle made a small sound as it shattered.

“…Right. Izumo.” (Makoto)

“Y-Yes?!” (Izumo)

“Wake up everyone and watch.” (Makoto)

Without turning back, the Sensei said these few words and faced Haruka.

****

(The following sections are translated, but the formatting is too long to include here. I’ve kept the overall structure and paragraphing, but the content is very extensive.)