Holy Flame

"Ignore the small fry!"

Liese, who was leading the way, called out.

Just as she said, Liese and the others prioritized moving forward over defeating their enemies.

They had only one goal.

To bring Linfia to the location of the black sphere.

Abel, who was beside Linfia, muttered as he looked up at the sky.

"With an SS-rank adventurer backing us up, there's less for us to do, which is a big help."

"That's right. We were lucky he came."

While dealing with powerful enemies such as zombie dragons and giant skeletons, he was also whittling down as many of the skeletons around Liese and the others as possible.

They couldn't have hoped for better reinforcements.

But why had Silver come when the flute was played?

The question arose, but it was quickly brushed aside.

This was not the time to think about it.

Linfia swung the magic sword she had shaped into a spear, scattering skeletons.

"I'll move ahead."

"W-wait! Everyone's here to protect you!"

"We won't make it to the city if I just sit around doing nothing."

"Heh... I like you, adventurer. Tell me your name."

"My name is Linfia."

"I am Lieselotte. Do you know me?"

"Yes. You are Her Highness the First Princess, the strongest marshal in the Imperial Family, and the elder sister of His Highness Prince Leonart and His Highness Prince Arnold."

"You know Al too?"

She was used to being called Leo's sister, but it was rare for anyone to call her Al's sister.

That was because Al was a prince who rarely came up in conversation. In another sense, however, he was a prince who never lacked for things to talk about.

Yet Linfia smiled favorably at the mention of Al.

"Yes. Prince Arnold was the first person to reach out to me."

"Al? That's surprising."

"It surprised me too. But he wasn't the kind of person people said he was. Both Prince Leonart and Prince Arnold are willing to act for the sake of others. They have even lent their strength to someone like me."

"Leo, perhaps, but you're overestimating Al. Don't you think so, Leo?"

Liese actually directed the question at Leo, who was dealing with the giant skeleton rushing toward them.

Apparently Leo hadn't been listening very closely either; he called back in a loud voice.

"Huh? What is it!?"

"At least listen when your sister is talking."

"If you're going to discuss something important, pick a better time and place! I'll come after I stop that monster! Go on ahead! Make sure you take care of Linfia!"

"Yeah, leave it to me. You be careful too."

"Yes, Sister."

After that exchange, Leo separated somewhat from the group and went with the knights to deal with the giant skeleton.

In the sky, Silver was contending with multiple zombie dragons.

They were finally close to the city.

"Is it all right to let Prince Leonart go on ahead?"

"He's my younger brother. There's no need to worry. Now, what were we talking about?"

"About how I was giving Prince Arnold too much credit."

"That's right. Leo might help you out of sheer goodwill. But Al is different. He doesn't help people who have nothing to offer."

"Is that so?"

"It is. He helps people only when they're worth helping. It may look like a whim to many, but Al has clear standards. Do they have enough ability to merit his help? Do they have a just cause worth supporting? Do they have convictions worth supporting? That's what Al looks at. So hold your head high. If Al helped you, it means he recognized you."

Saying that, Liese cut down the skeletons ahead.

She drove her horse into that space and cut down more skeletons.

"Al took you by the hand and lifted you up, and Leo walked beside you. From here on, I will carve your path open. But whatever else happens, I will not allow you to waste my younger brothers' help. Rescue your sister. Never give up."

"Yes!"

Answering Liese's words, Linfia moved forward.

Shortly afterward, Linfia and the others succeeded in entering the city of Bassau.

■■■

"Now! Attack its legs!"

Leo was leading the knights against the giant skeleton.

The knights all attacked the giant skeleton's legs at once, knocking it to the ground. Seizing the opening, they finished it off.

"Another one's coming!"

"Charge formation! Don't let it get near Sister and the others!"

Leo rallied the knights present and set about bringing down the giant skeleton.

But suddenly he sensed a presence behind him.

Leo instinctively leaped off his horse, escaping whatever it was.

"Guh..."

When he hit the ground and rolled, an unnatural heat radiated from his side.

When he gently touched it, his hand came away covered in blood.

"A perceptive prince."

"Balam..."

The demon Balam, who could turn invisible, was standing there.

The sword he held was stained with red blood.

It was Leo's blood. If he hadn't escaped on instinct, he might have died.

Thinking that, Leo got to his feet.

The wound was bleeding heavily, but it was shallow. It wasn't serious enough to keep him from fighting.

"Your Highness! I'm coming!"

"Half of you, go stop the giant skeleton! The other half, deal with the enemies around us... I'll handle Balam."

"But you're injured!"

"Balam's target is me. Since he can turn invisible and is coming after me, I have no choice but to face him."

Saying that, Leo readied his sword.

Balam, who had intended to ambush him from behind if he fled, clicked his tongue.

Even among demons, some were suited for combat and some were not. Balam was not particularly skilled at fighting, and his possession of a human was incomplete.

Furcas had possessed a human who had only just died, whereas Balam had possessed one who was still alive. As a result, he was not in a state where he could fully exert his power as a demon.

Balam would have preferred it if Leo had fled, but Leo saw through him and challenged him to a fight.

"A sly little prince."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Tension steadily mounted between them.

Amid this, Silver descended from the sky.

"I'll lend you a hand."

Balam grimaced when powerful reinforcements arrived.

He had no chance of winning against someone capable of blocking Furcas's attacks.

However, the masked man's presence here meant that no one capable of opposing Furcas was available.

Balam had targeted the prince to break the enemy's morale, but inwardly smirked when he realized it had achieved an even greater effect.

But then.

"No need. Go after Linfia."

"You don't look like you can spare me."

"She needs you. Go."

Leo stepped forward and told Silver as much.

Silver, however, did not back down.

"I can't just say, 'Oh, is that so?' If you die, it'll cause trouble for me too."

Silver healed the wound in Leo's side with healing magic.

Yet rather than thank Silver, Leo glared at him.

"Don't be ridiculous...! Worry about the child's life, not mine! Isn't that why you came here!?"

"I'll follow after I finish this one off. Don't worry."

"Don't concern yourself with me... Go. Now."

"But..."

"No buts! If you really acknowledge me, then go!"

Leo fixed Silver with a fierce gaze.

The strength in Leo's eyes was unlike anything Silver—or rather, Arnold—had ever seen there before.

"I will strive to become the emperor I envision... The first step is rescuing the children. I mobilized so many knights and adventurers, and I insisted on having things my way. To go this far and still fail to save the children... I refuse to accept it! We will definitely rescue the children and resolve this anomaly!! Go, Silver! If you truly are an SS-rank adventurer, show me that power!!!!"

It was practically a roar.

Arnold had never seen Leo like that before.

So Arnold lightly kicked off the ground and rose into the sky.

"Then I'll show you. Stay alive until you see it, Prince Leonart."

"Don't worry... I'm the man who will become emperor. I won't die here."

"I see..."

With that, Al teleported toward the city.

Then Leo's fierce gaze turned toward Balam.

"Come, Balam... In the name of an Imperial Prince, I will pass judgment on you for unleashing calamity upon the Empire!"

"If you think you can, then try!"

And so the battle between Balam and Leo began.

Their swords clashed. Normally, Leo might have fought while calmly assessing his opponent's condition.

But the Leo of this moment was different.

"Haaah!"

"Guh!"

Balam, fighting with only one arm, was driven back by the furious barrage of attacks.

Then one of Leo's blows broke Balam's sword in two.

"Raaagh!"

"Tch!"

Leo turned his wrist and aimed for Balam's remaining arm.

At that instant, Balam turned invisible and fled.

"He vanished..."

Leo focused on the sounds and presence around him.

If he were going to retreat over something this minor, he wouldn't have attacked in the first place.

He was certain Balam would come for him again.

And he was right.

"Hah!"

"Guh..."

Balam suddenly appeared behind Leo and slashed him shallowly across the back.

A dagger was clutched in his hand.

Leo spun and swung his sword, but Balam was already gone.

Leo clicked his tongue despite himself—something he normally wouldn't do—and scanned his surroundings.

But he couldn't find Balam; this time Balam appeared from the side and stabbed him in the left leg.

"Guh..."

"How pathetic, prince."

"Damn you!"

Leo swung his sword at Balam, but Balam casually put distance between them and turned invisible again.

Realizing his temper was getting the better of him, Leo exhaled deeply.

From where would he attack next? How should he counterattack?

As he considered this, Arnold's face flashed through Leo's mind.

A battle of wits was Al's specialty. How could he catch his opponent off guard?

"If it were big brother..."

Leo thought for a moment, then sheathed his sword. He closed his eyes and focused solely on his opponent's presence.

Balam's weapon was a dagger. To inflict a mortal wound, he would have to aim for a vital spot. And the attack with the highest probability was a stab. Balam still had plenty of leeway and wouldn't take unnecessary risks.

Then the target would be the heart. Leo concluded that Balam would stab him there.

The instant he sensed a presence behind him...

Leo shifted his body to the right.

But a searing heat shot through his left shoulder, followed by a sharp pain.

Looking over, he saw the dagger buried deep in his left shoulder.

"Did you think you could dodge me by giving up on counterattacking and focusing solely on evasion?"

"No... I haven't given up on anything..."

Leo gritted his teeth, shifted his body, and seized Balam by the neck with his right hand.

Then, squeezing hard enough to snap it, he muttered:

≪That flame descended from heaven to save the righteous; O supreme holy flame, burn with noble radiance and smite the wicked――Holy Blaze≫

A five-verse modern spell.

It was holy magic that had a tremendous effect on undead monsters. Among the widely used modern spells, it was an advanced one with few practitioners, but Leo had learned a wide variety of magic, including this spell, just in case he ever needed it.

A holy flame sprang to life in Leo's right hand and burned only Balam. Leo's hand remained completely unharmed.

"Gwoooooooh!!??"

"I'm not letting you escape..."

Balam made as if to flee and gripped Leo's right arm with all his strength, but Leo never released him and continued intensifying the holy flame.

Eventually Balam stopped resisting, but Leo continued burning him until his body was reduced completely to dust.

"Haa... haa..."

Once Balam had been reduced to dust and the wind had scattered it, Leo drew his sword from its sheath and raised it high.

"The Empire's Eighth Prince, Leonart Leaks Adler, has slain a demon!!!!"

At that moment, the knights present raised a victory cry.

Then Leo looked toward the city.

"I'm counting on you, Linfia..."

At that moment, the black sphere suddenly emitted a powerful light.