Chapter 177 : Side Story 2
Side Story 2
Alter opened his eyes the moment he woke from the dream.
The sun had not yet risen, but the darkness was, if only faintly, receding.
It seemed to be dawn, and already vague presences could be felt.
'This is...'
Sensing a familiar mana, Alter unconsciously recalled the contents of the dream.
He had been told his mother's mana would be released, and her captor would only let her go if he complied with their demands.
Indeed, even from a great distance, his mother's mana was faintly reaching him.
'Was my mother really alive?'
Doubt gripped Alter, but he was not greatly agitated.
For now, he needed to grasp the enemy's intentions and prepare countermeasures.
The enemy surely possessed tremendous strength; handling this alone would be difficult.
'I need to find out why they want to fight me...'
At the moment, though, he could not deduce anything further.
The enemy left no clues, simply making unilateral contact.
If they had a mere combative disposition, would they really have needed to employ such methods?
'They haven't invaded the empire. And they told me to bring companions...'
"Are you up already? Wouldn't it be better to sleep a little longer?"
Brillie, half-awake, gazed at Alter.
After a short hesitation, Alter opened his mouth belatedly.
"It seems my mother is alive."
"... What did you say?"
Only then did Brillie snap to her senses and sit up.
She lightly threw on some clothes, then lit a lamp.
Beyond the glow, her companion's face was set in contemplation.
"I don't know who it is, but... I suppose someone is holding my mother captive."
"But... didn't she pass away back then?"
"I thought so as well. But now I can sense her mana."
"Have you checked thoroughly?"
"If it was a trick, I would've noticed right away. It's hard to believe, but I'm certain—my mother is alive."
"......"
Brillie never truly doubted Alter.
She only considered the chance that Alter had made a mistake.
Since her husband was careful and thoughtful, if he was certain, she had no choice but to believe him completely.
"The opponent wants to fight me. They said I could bring companions."
"The purpose is to fight? It could be they want to kill you, Alter."
"The opponent entered my dream to communicate. Even for a great mage, entering another's dream is not easy. Reaching that level means there'd be no need to rely on such methods."
"So, they're trying not to harm others?"
"That seems to be the case. I suppose they want to face me alone."
From the moment he heard that voice, Alter had instinctively grasped his opponent's will.
They seemed possessed more by desire than malice, distanced from killing intent and destruction.
Perhaps even their fight with him was just a means to fulfill some deep yearning.
"... You're going to go, aren't you?"
"Yes. I doubt I can endure alone. Could you come with me?"
Alter brought it up without the slightest hesitation.
Bound as a married couple, even trivial things shouldn't be hidden.
He simply needed to confirm her feelings, as the parent of their child and the one he loved.
"Of course. I should go with you. Are you not calling on anyone else?"
"I should probably ask my master and the Sword Saint. The holy apostle would be difficult."
"That will do. These matters are best resolved quietly."
Brillie seized with a determination to give it her all, something she hadn't felt in some time.
Her husband was the strongest of the strong, having survived fights with dragons.
Yet he remained cautious. This threat must practically be equivalent to a dragon.
'I haven't fought in years, but... I haven't given up the sword. Whatever comes, I'll cut it down.'
* * *
Alraune was crossing the western lands following Alter.
At first, he had doubted Alter's words, but only now did he realize he was right.
Indeed, Uriel's mana could be sensed from not so far away.
How on earth had she remained hidden so long, only now showing any trace?
"... This won't be an easy battle."
"As strong as a dragon?"
"Perhaps even more threatening. Hasn't she manifested some special magic?"
As a mage, Alraune had devoted his life to studying magic.
Most of it was attribute-related, but he'd extended his understanding a little to other fields.
But forcibly interfering with someone's dream was so alien, he couldn't say anything for certain.
"I thought I could finally retire in peace, but now more trouble has come."
"There's no need for too much worry. We have the great mage and the Sword Flower, do we not?"
"I don't doubt their abilities. It's just... I can't predict the outcome."
Megarexor answered gravely, lost in memories of past battles.
He had ceaselessly swung his sword to slay dragons, and had to face promising swordsmen as well.
But each time, his limits became clear, and he concluded he couldn't escape aging.
He'd tried to lay down his sword—yet this time, he could not stay out of the fray.
'So Uriel is alive... what a...'
At news of her, Megarexor found himself unconsciously feeling hopeful.
She had married another man, but that did not erase his lingering feelings.
If only he could see her face again, maybe it would erase years of inner turmoil.
'I must be out of my mind. Still shackled to the past...'
He reproached himself, yet couldn't let go of his heart.
It was an unfulfilled affection, so all the more he was bound by it.
He had wandered, never finding a new bond, and was clinging to this one in the end.
'Still, the Northern Grand Duke is better than I am. What's so great about knowing how to wield a sword...'
He had once stood at the summit, but only in the matter of swordsmanship.
By contrast, the Northern Grand Duke wielded vast territory, authority, and influence.
How could a mere swordsman like himself hold his own against such a grand noble?
'It's not just me, though—others must also...'
"We're almost there."
Following the flow of mana, Alter surveyed his surroundings.
There was nothing but wasteland, yet his mother's mana still pulsed.
Perhaps the space had been warped and her form concealed.
"Hm... There's nothing to see. Must be some magical manipulation."
"If they truly wish to fight, they can't keep hiding."
"There's also the chance of a preemptive strike."
"If that were the case, they would have tried to assassinate me. But so far, there's been no sign."
"Could be an attempt to deceive you. There's no gain in combat alone, is there?"
"They probably have an agenda, but..."
"Are you still doubting me? I'm a little hurt by that."
With those words, the landscape around them began to quake.
The barren plain vanished in an instant, replaced by ground cloaked in gray.
At the same time, someone appeared, shadowy hair fluttering, steeped in darkness.
"That's all? I thought there'd be more of you."
"Are you hoping for more casualties?"
"You must have found things out about me by now, right? Think you can withstand this?"
She muttered with an air of leisure, watching them.
Even at a glance she could tell only powerful humans had come.
Especially the descendant of Tiksa, and that woman—both brimming with considerable mana, inevitably drawing her gaze.
"I feel something familiar from you. Who are you?"
"......"
"Not planning to answer? Well, fine. Maybe I'll find out when we fight."
Her amethyst eyes glimmered with peculiar curiosity.
She already recognized the descendant of Tiksa.
Now she just wanted to uncover the other woman's identity.
"This isn't human mana. Then why do you appear as human?"
"I used to be human. I just... changed a bit over time."
"What are you planning to do with my mother?"
"Nothing, as long as you comply with my demands. She'll be safely released, won't she?"
She strode forward slowly, radiating mana.
Gray horns sprouted from her head, amethyst eyes turning orange.
The tips of her black hair turned white, and pale scales began covering her body.
"Was she a dragon?"
"... It looks like dragon power was artificially infused. Yet it's so stable?"
Alraune watched her in awe.
Even the Knight of True Flame had been thoroughly consumed, unable to handle dragon power.
But this opponent had perfectly absorbed that power, wielding it freely.
It was a state impossible for humans to attain, and even dragons seldom managed such balance.
"Well then, shall we get started? I want you to give it your all."
She conjured a snow-white sword and grasped it lightly.
She then burst into motion, charging directly at Alter.
Brillie drew her blade in a flash, calling forth the radiance of Radiance.
"That is..."
Blocked by Brillie, she gazed at the pale violet current.
The hue had shifted compared to the past, but there was no doubt it was a remnant of Radiance.
Why had she met their descendant here, of all places?
"Ah... how did things turn out like this? Radiance appears here?"
She broke into laughter, yet swung her sword gracefully.
The surging flames were snuffed out, and Megarexor's blade was sharply parried.
Brillie tried to strike back, but her blade was already starting to bend.
"I never imagined we'd meet again like this. Don't you agree?"
Lost in fragments of old memories, she faced a sword marked by Radiance.
She had become human late, and in the end, drove away their shared nemesis alongside them.
They had fallen to death, but she still wandered this world.
"Maybe it was better back then? Oh, I'm feeling nostalgic."
Brillie, frowning, drew back Radiance.
Then, unleashing golden flames, she pressed the attack.
But her foe grew only more delighted, fiercely countering.
"You're using Celestial One? Even without a magic sword, you can do that?"
"... I have no idea what you're talking about..."
Flustered, Brillie endured her opponent's sword strikes.
She couldn't seize an advantage by strength alone, and even the speed of her opponent's thrusts was blinding.
The density of mana was so thick, she could barely dispel it.
"You... you met my sister, didn't you? There's no other way."
"Who's your sister?!"
Brillie gripped the sword hilt tightly and hurled her opponent back with all her strength.
The woman seemed to retreat for a moment, then calmly halted.
At the same time, Alter drew a magic circle and unleashed a breath attack.
"That one might be more fun to counter."
Smiling, she brought her blade down.
Pure white light poured from the blade, forming a sword aura.
The white sword aura clashed with the breath, locked for a moment, and then vanished.
"This isn't the end, is it? Go wild—I need more than this!"