Chapter 84: Concert (5)

A cacophony as if violating eardrums.

Following the unpleasantly resonating melody, the blood-filled surface shook as if an earthquake had occurred.

Right after, it became a huge tidal wave and crashed into the shore.

We, standing on the sandy beach, hesitated and stepped back.

Boom-!

The ground vibrated.

As if trying to reach the sun in the sky, the crimson waves rose so high they couldn't be seen.

The surging blood was boiling.

As it contained demonic energy of terrible concentration, it was already no different from hydrochloric acid.

The moment it touched, existence would melt away.

"We must block it."

"Yes."

Charlotte stepped forward with the answer.

Charlotte grasped her sword with both hands, then took a step towards the pouring tidal wave.

Not even a trace of wavering was reflected in her transparent pupils.

As she was gathering mana at her fingertips.

Soon a brilliant light burst from her sword's surface.

"Cut."

Her lips moved lightly.

Right after, following the slash drawn in the air, an intense sword energy shot through the blood-colored fog.

A single flash of light collided head-on with the huge tidal wave.

And

Boom!!!

The oncoming waves shattered into pieces.

Blood scattering as small foam.

Only a few drops closest to the shore fell on our heads.

While I was protecting my body by making an umbrella with shadows, Charlotte, who was avoiding the drizzle beside me, spoke while panting.

She seemed to have consumed quite a bit of energy despite it being just one clash.

"This... hurts my hand."

"The power is ominous."

"I gave it my all, but barely managed to block it."

Charlotte clenching and unclenching her numb hand.

Seeing the girl's burdened reaction, I muttered as if troubled.

"It seems they put a lot of power into making it this time."

It was power that deviated from expectations.

The Conductor's thought entity.

Originally it should have been easily suppressed by Charlotte, but perhaps because it was returning after a long time, it seemed to have prepared intensely.

It felt quite unexpected.

Using this much power would have been a burden for it too.

I spoke while lost in thought.

"It seems this won't be an easy fight."

"Indeed."

"Are you alright, Your Highness?"

"No problem. More than that, do you know anything? About these strange things happening now."

"Well..."

I knew about the Conductor.

Because I had encountered it to the point of boredom in the original work.

Where its music lingered, nightmares were realized.

The melody covered in demonic energy enthralls people, corrupts their essence, and turns them into beings that can no longer be embraced by God.

The victims only repeat slaughter and performance as monsters.

'It wasn't called the worst Katasto for nothing.'

An ability optimized for massacre.

Of course, it doesn't overturn on such an enormous scale from the start.

The beginning originates from a narrow seed.

'Concert'

It's a virtual space created by the Conductor.

It traps several hosts inside.

Then waits until it holds sufficient demonic energy.

When complete mutation is achieved like that, it pours those things out beyond the domain.

The ferocious melody spreads like a virus and turns the surroundings into wasteland.

The cathedral we were located in was the same.

A state like a time bomb that could explode at any moment.

If we failed to conquer the boss within the time limit, the demonic energy accumulated inside would run wild as it was.

It would easily sweep away at least one village.

No.

Since it seemed to have used more power than usual, this time it might even swallow the surrounding villages.

Considering the damage that would occur, we had to stop it no matter what.

'The method is simple.'

The Conductor's domain is maintained through a 'thought entity'.

It's easier to think of it as the strongest host, and most of the demonic energy coalesces around such a being and increases its size.

In other words, it could be seen as the heart of the concert.

Therefore, when the thought entity is neutralized, the domain also loses balance and collapses.

I pointed to the woman visible ahead and spoke.

"For now, we just need to subdue that person."

"Easier said than done."

"Will it be difficult?"

"Killing might be barely possible."

"Haha... Please refrain from that. Though she looks like that, she's someone I received help from in many ways."

"It can't be helped. Capturing alive is beyond my ability."

Charlotte shook her head.

Then she tilted her head as if something was strange.

"Is there meaning in capturing alive in the first place?"

"Hmm?"

"She's been consumed by demonic energy. She's already in an irreversible state, so why bother capturing alive?"

"Please just follow my words for now. You'll understand soon."

"I see... I'll try my best for now."

The girl fiddled with her sword.

Perhaps because the impact of the first collision was stronger than expected?

Though Charlotte was holding her aching wrist, the opponent with rolled eyes wouldn't consider such circumstances.

The woman standing in the middle of the sea continued her performance.

Screech-!

She placed the bow on the strings.

Following the elegant hand gesture drawn afterwards, an unpleasant melody that was difficult to listen to rang out.

Could such a terrible pitch come from a violin?

"Here it comes."

Boom-!

The surface began shaking once again.

The boiling blood scattered in all directions.

They slowly rose into the air, then soon solidified into the shape of sharp swords.

Hundreds of blood swords were glaring at us.

The scene of crimson swords gathering against a crimson sky above a crimson sea was truly overwhelming.

Nevertheless.

"......"

The girl exhaled a calm breath.

A posture without disturbance.

Thud-!

She stabbed the sword she was holding into the ground.

The blade was deeply embedded in the sandy beach. Charlotte firmly grasped it and exploded the mana in her body.

A mesmerizing light flashed in her blue pupils.

With the surging aura behind her, her rose-colored lips recited the activation words.

Activation words to unfold her domain.

"Sword, be dyed."

-Charlotte-style Domain Swordsmanship Fifth Form-

'Gray Garden'

Boom-!

Steel vines sprouted from the ground and wrapped around us like a whirlwind.

The stems wove and cut each other.

Like that, one huge landscape was created.

A rose garden unfolding splendidly.

When Charlotte lightly twisted her sword, thousands of blade petals fluttered.

Right after, they were shot riding the blowing storm.

Boom-!

The beach began to shake.

The storms advancing fiercely on each side soon collided and mixed intensely.

Blood and petals splattered in all directions.

"Haa..."

She aimed her sword amidst the fierce bursting sounds.

In Charlotte's pupils that had been transparent, the woman performing the cacophony was now reflected.

***

Charlotte, and the Conductor's thought entity.

The fight continued fiercely.

The thought entity pushed with the overwhelming quantity of demonic energy, and each time Charlotte neutralized the crisis through appropriate defense or counterattack.

Especially whenever sword energy fired from afar hit, the waves shook greatly.

"......"

I was watching the situation.

I only took on the role of light assistance in the battle, not attempting direct hits or such.

For now I intended to grasp how much Charlotte had grown.

Only when you have a good grasp of the present standard can you execute plans for the future.

Charlotte didn't particularly tackle my appearance either.

-I don't intend to reveal your identity. You don't seem like a bad person.

-I'm just... curious about you as a person.

As she knew about my power, she seemed to think I would handle things properly.

The girl only focused on her own fight.

Clang! Crack...! Thud!

The Conductor's thought entity.

Charlotte was engaging in an evenly matched battle.

Originally it was an enemy that should appear around 2nd year, so it was encouraging that she was on par despite still being in 1st year.

Moreover, unlike the children I had directly intervened in their growth, in Charlotte's case she was developing entirely on her own, so it was indeed talent worthy of being called the greatest genius in the work.

Of course.

'It doesn't mean she's perfect.'

As it was still the 1st year point, there was a difference from the 3rd year Charlotte I remembered.

Her swordsmanship still had room for improvement.

And her ultimate technique 'Gray Garden' hadn't yet been properly colored.

These aspects would probably be resolved with time.

'Because she's a genius.'

At least regarding growth, it seemed I didn't need to worry.

Of course there was a complex problem related to the 'Rose', but that was content I could resolve without much difficulty.

I organized the situation in my head.

As I was lost in thought like that.

Suddenly Charlotte, standing in front, staggered.

Judging by how she knelt on one knee, it seemed her stamina was running out.

Disordered breaths flowed over her lips.

"Haa, haa..."

The girl's domain was half-destroyed.

The sturdy garden was broken, and the steel roses that had bloomed were in a snapped state.

The underbrush was withering, perhaps due to lack of mana.

Charlotte caught her breath for a moment, then stared this way with an expressionless face.

"Sorry. I'm at my limit now."

Was subduing impossible after all?

A declaration of surrender being heard.

I nodded my head.

"You were splendid, Your Highness."

"I think I could have done it if the goal was to kill. It was difficult aiming to be captured alive."

"It's fine, you'll just get stronger in the future."

"You asked me to buy time. Was this enough?"

"More than enough."

"That's a relief."

Charlotte smiled faintly, then sat down completely.

She didn't seem particularly scared.

No, it was more like her emotions themselves were thin.

She was a girl spanning multiple dimensions in many ways.

I took a step towards the thought entity glaring at us, leaving the tired princess behind.

The woman was still standing in the middle of the sea playing the violin.

"Will you be alright? It's not just ordinarily tricky."

"No problem."

"Okay. With your power, it should be possible."

"Though the sea full of demonic energy is tricky, I just need to cross it in one breath."

"Is there anything I can help with?"

"It would be good if you could draw its attention for a very brief moment."

"Got it."

"I'll signal."

I brought up a blue screen in the air.

Checking the remaining output.

-Ding!

[Current remaining output: 82.7%]

It was a comfortable figure.

I, who had been lightly stretching my fingers, immediately threw a word to the girl.

A signal determining the timing to step forward.

"Now."

"Okay."

Swish-.

Charlotte grasped her dropped sword again.

She closed her eyelids as if concentrating briefly, then scraped together all the mana remaining in her body.

A blue aura whirled around her.

Whoosh-!

An unnecessary gust blew and covered the sandy beach.

A brilliant light originating from her sword tip.

Radiance dyed pure white.

As if opposing the crimson scenery, one slash of sword energy rained down as a snow-white banner.

It was a dazzlingly splendid scene drawing attention.

"Kyaaaaa!!"

Perhaps noticing the ominous flow?

The thought entity widened its eyes.

Rotten blood dripped like tears down its lifeless cheeks.

The woman re-gripped the bow she had been lowering. She seemed to be preparing for the attack to come afterwards.

Only platinum blonde hair was reflected in her blackened pupils.

But

"That's just a diversion."

A fake giving it her all.

It was merely a light emission effect with no danger, striking with all her might using the remaining mana.

In other words, a bluff with all her heart and soul.

The real thing was behind.

Clap-!

A cheerful clapping sound ringing out.

The next moment.

I was standing behind the thought entity.

Though it turned around in surprise, I was faster in grabbing its neck.

Grab-!

"...!"

The dead lips couldn't even scream.

While I was gripping its neck as if to break it, the thought entity flailed its limbs as if trying to shake me off.

It was a meaningless struggle.

The shadow I had already unraveled had bound the woman's body.

A state as if caught in a spider web.

"...!!"

Perhaps as a last resistance?

It plucked the violin string.

Ding-!

A harsh noise rang out, and following that the demonic energy spread on the sea began to swirl.

The crimson traces mixed into huge waves.

It seemed to intend to swallow us into the sea like this.

Rumble!!

The waves convulsed with an eerie sound.

The demonic energy scattered in the air gathered at some point, then soon formed crimson clouds and settled as a huge storm.

Though it was fierce energy incomparable to before, befitting a final move.

I didn't waver.

"...Pfft."

Rather, I only sneered.

It was a gesture that was vain, futile, and held no meaning whatsoever.

I held a cheap pity.

"Hear my call."

I calmly recited an incantation.

"The Lord immediately said, 'Take heart! It is I. Don't be afraid.'"

Medro replied, "Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said. Then Medro got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward the Lord.

But when she saw the wind, she was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

Immediately the Lord reached out his hand and caught her. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

And when they climbed into the boat,

"The wind died down."

I raised my closed eyelids.

Transparent snow-white pupils.

They flashed desolately, holding light and darkness.

Following the holy ringing verses of the gospel, the sea that had been raging like a storm had calmed down.

A quiet scene without even slight noise.

"Calling the lost lamb."

I put lies in my fingertips.

The creeping shadows dyed the surrounding air black.

And

"Break."

A direct word tying up all sins.

Large cracks appeared in the sky.

Crack, crack-!

As if a mirror was breaking.

The background covered in blood fog shattered to pieces, and blue sky began to be revealed through the fragmented gaps.

The body of the woman being held also gradually regained vitality.

Medro Gardnier.

Her pupils blinked blankly.

As if unable to distinguish whether the current scene was a dream or reality.

Because she had been sunk in a nightmare until just before.

"Com...mander?"

A faint voice.

I quietly embraced her.

Right after, I whispered in her ear.

"Let's go back, my child."

Before we knew it.

We were standing on a blue sea.