“Finally awake?”

Let the tip of my tails run through Nira’s hair as she slowly opened her eyes. Poor thing, she must’ve gone through so much pain.

It was probably like stuffing food down your throat when your stomach is very close to bursting, only for you to puke it all out a few seconds later.

A gruesome analogy, but that was exactly what happened to Nira.

“....What, I fainted?”

“You did.”

Nira covered her eyes and sighed. “Did we do it?”

“Nope.”

“Arghhh!”

I restrained Nira with my tails as she tried to get back up. “No. Rest.”

“But the Giant—”

“The Mages figured out a way to keep it deactivated for just a little bit longer. Just… rest, Nira. I’ll tell you when it’s time to move.”

As Nira fell silent again, I looked at the treehugger before me. Apparently, she was fucking that guard outside the casino when the attack happened.

She stood there while fiddling with her fingers, looking like she wanted to tell me something.

“Blurt it out.”

“I found the reason why the demons attacked!”

“Speak.”

“Sir Ohjin has something they want. That’s…. That’s all everyone knows.”

Great. How useless.

As I ran my hair along Nira’s hair again, a man in a mage robe rushed forward.

“Ma’am! Reporting! We can’t hold the Giant for much longer!”

Blood rushed to my face. “Do not call me that!” I then helped Nira up and summoned Aerin.

{Huh? Master? What’s going on?}

“Giant attacked.” I mean, that was literally it. I turned toward the mage and ordered him. “Go tell the captain to gather the soldiers!”

As the man ran off into the distance to get the captain and his soldiers, I muttered.

“I’ll show you how a former Swordsmaster marches.”

—-

The streets of this city were thankfully wide. I placed the soldiers in an arrow formation with Nira and I in the middle.

Though, there was something annoying. The soldiers were laughing and smiling while slaughtering the monsters on their way.

It’s good that their morale is high, but isn’t this too much?

Weren’t they too laid-back?

As I was about to remind them of the mission, a chill passed through my body. I looked upon a closed window and saw a glint of metal.

“GET YOUR SHIELDS UP NOW!”

The soldiers weren’t ready. They could barely get their shields up when a flurry of arrows landed on them. About a quarter of them died just from that attack alone.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Tch, useless bastard!” I gnashed my teeth and took out Aerin. “Treehugger! Stay here and hold your position!”

The treehugger nodded and shot an arrow into the ground. Roots shot out and covered the soldiers like a dome.

…My heart was weirdly clenching at this sight, but I shook my head to ignore it. I had something to do.

I rushed into the first house on the street and jumped upstairs. There stood a goblin with a bow. I killed it before it could react.

“It’s the only one here? Well, that’s fine.”

I focused Aura on my fist and smashed the wall apart. I then leapt to the house across the street and ripped the window open.

A goblin was there. Again, its throat was pierced without even knowing what hit it.

“I’ll clear the archers! Advance!”

As soon as I finished shouting, the soldiers began to slowly inch forward. At the same time, half of the arrows raining down onto them turned toward me instead.

“Tch!”

I cut the arrows down and jumped from houses to houses, repeating the same process over and over again.

As I clung onto the balcony of the last house near the clocktower, I saw a big shadow under me.

“...!”

The Giant was trying to smash me with its fist.

Its large size meant that I couldn’t get away. Even if I could, the impact would make the clocktower crumble and get rid of my only chance at winning.

“Hahahahahah!”

If the situation was so hopeless, then why…. Why did I break out laughing?

Oh, right.

In the face of death, I could only laugh.

“As if! There’s still one thing I can do!”

Part of my Cosmic Swordsmanship that I’d neglected. I wanted to wait until I reached the other continent before I could waste money to practice it, but it seemed that I was left with no choice.

“Forgive me, Aerin.”

{Master…. I’m ready.}

{Esther…. That Aura Pattern…. Are you—!}

“As expected, nothing can deceive you, Nira.”

With my hand as I makeshift scabbard, I placed Aerin near my waist and waited for the fist to come.

It loomed ever closer to me with each second. My fate was to be a foxy pancake if I failed.

But Nira shook. She made Aerin return to my Soul Space and took her place instead.

“What are you doing!?”

{Think about it. Even in my current state, I’m more durable than the pushover.}

“But—”

{Sure, she can come back if she breaks, but what will you do until she repairs herself? I’m close to breaking anyways. Just let me do this.}

I bit my lower lip and nodded. “Don’t you dare break on me. Finding the Mana to repair you will be a hassle.”

{Heh, we’re about to be separated again and that’s all you’re thinking about?}

“Shuddup.”

Those were my last words to her.

The fist came.

I slid Nira out and made sure she cut my palm on the way out.

«[Bloodletting] is activated»

As the blade left my palm, Lightning swirled around my feet and traveled up the blade.

«[Red Lightning] is activated»

The preparation was ready.

A heavy force pressed on my hand as Nira’s blade came into contact with the giant’s stony fist. My fingers broke, but I didn’t cry out in agony.

Because Nira didn’t scream.

As the pressure became unbearable, I also gripped the handle with my other hand.

“[Cosmic Swordsmanship]: Star’s Retaliation.”

Aura exploded in a ring at the point of contact. The fist was repelled, and the Giant itself stumbled backward. But it didn’t end there. [Star’s Retaliation] still had a second part.

{Take good care of me, Esther.}

I slashed down. The force that Nira endured was converted into pure, red, electric, and violent Aura. The momentum of my swing flung it out of the sword.

It tore the ground apart. It tore buildings apart. It may have even tore some innocent bystanders apart.

But most importantly, it cleaved off the Giant’s right arm.

The danger had passed. I snapped the bones of my fingers back into place and made Nira disappear back into my Soul Space again.

{Master….}

“Aerin, don’t cry.”

{But I’m not—}

“Huekk! D-Don’t cry! She’ll be back. She’ll be back! Even if I have to tear the Mage Spires apart again, I’ll bring her back!”

Ah, was it raining? No, it was sunny. Then why were my cheeks wet? It had to be my sweat.

“I won’t be long, Nira. That Ohjin bastard pulled me into this messy shit. I’ll make sure he coughs up Magical Artifacts for you to eat.”

I pressed my palm onto one of my eyes and looked toward the beautiful bright blue sky. Its beauty was only tarnished by the black pile of rock that dared to take Nira away from me.

I then looked down. The soldiers were safe. The ones that were alive didn’t suffer many injuries. They could still fight well.

With the largest voice I could, I shouted.

“Change of plans!”