Chapter 214
"By the way, shouldn't we take a picture of this? I really want to show the real Luca."
Luca, who usually hated being told he looked like a lady.
She couldn't hold back seeing him now, wearing the true form of a lady, with that smile on his face.
"But... aren't you surprised?"
Ottbo was puzzled.
That Milia did not seem surprised at Luca Traverse's current appearance.
Milia just shrugged her shoulders.
"The academy is already in my grasp. I know everything that happens inside. I already knew Luca entered that body."
"Ah... that... voyeurism..."
"If you say 'voyeurism' one more time, I won't talk to you for a whole week."
Milia glared ferociously and warned him.
Realizing his mistake, Ottbo bowed his head.
Milia pouted her lips and looked over at Luca Traverse.
"... By the way, is he dead? He's not breathing."
Since he was inactive, Luca Traverse wasn't even breathing.
Ottbo hurriedly checked his drive magic.
"Wait a second. Looks like it's overloaded..."
Crackle!
Sss—
After Ottbo adjusted the drive magic, there was a spark, and Luca Traverse opened his eyes.
He placed his hand on his chest for a moment, then spoke indifferently.
"How troublesome. To stop at this level."
"Are you alright?"
"Are you crazy? Why did you push yourself so hard when you still have to fight that Devil of Power or whatever it is?"
Ottbo sounded concerned, while Milia shot at him sharply.
Luca Traverse looked at the two for a moment before twisting his lips.
"I'll handle it."
"What, what did you say?!"
Milia frowned at Luca Traverse's defiant words, and Ottbo tried to calm her down.
"Easy, Milia. He means he'll take care not to interfere with the task, so don't worry too much."
"......?"
"Tsk."
Milia mouthed a retort at Luca Traverse's lack of denial.
She sighed and grumbled.
"I think the original Luca was way better."
Luca Traverse responded with disinterest, as if reacting to her words.
"No, he wasn't."
"What?"
"Let's go back."
Ignoring Milia's expectant gaze, Luca Traverse lifted the nearby, fallen Wylde.
Milia seemed to have more to say, but thinking that returning came first, she activated the Dimension Core.
― Perfect Control
In an instant, the four of them were relocated.
"Hm? So, is the test complete?"
They had arrived in Strethel's laboratory.
"Some internal shock might have occurred. Make sure to check it."
"What... what did you do?"
Luca Traverse spoke indifferently and passed her by, making his way to Bella, who was guarding his body in a corner of the lab.
"You're here, master."
"Yes."
Sss—
At the same time, the strongest body collapsed as Luca Traverse returned to his original form.
He opened his eyes and spoke indifferently.
"Is there really any need for you to guard me like this?"
Bella had nestled his head on her lap.
She chuckled softly and whispered,
"It's just my taste. When you're sleeping, gazing at you like an angel is quite enjoyable."
"Tsk."
Luca Traverse just clicked his tongue but said nothing further.
"Hm... as expected, you're perfectly fine. There's no way this body would break down so easily."
Unconcerned with the two, strethel was carefully examining the strongest body with a serious face.
"It moves as it should, right?"
"It moved just as I wanted. There was almost no difference from my own body."
"Great. So there was no rejection. Excellent!"
Strethel was evidently delighted as actual data accumulated.
Luca Traverse spoke indifferently as he watched her.
"Be ready for repairs too. There's a chance it could break."
"They call it a devil, right? Is that thing really strong enough to destroy this body?"
Strethel's eyes gleamed with interest.
The strongest body was made of special materials including her scales and claws.
If this body, an essence of arcane power, was at risk of being destroyed, that made the enemy fascinating.
"Don't take it lightly. A devil is far more terrifying than you imagine."
When Luca fought the Devil of Wisdom.
He had been within the mindscape, but he'd felt to his bones how frightening the Three Great Devils were.
Defeating the Devil of Power would undoubtedly be difficult too.
"If we fail to stop that guy, everyone on the continent could become food for the devils. Even Eltima Cross couldn't defeat him."
"......."
Strethel fell silent, the reality sinking in at the mention that even the continent's hero Eltima hadn't won.
Luca Traverse walked up to the strongest body, speaking indifferently.
"Let's return to them. It's truly time to fight the Devil of Power now."
* * *
After Luca Traverse's group departed, the laboratory remained gloomy.
"Eltima..."
Within the sanctuary created by Shinryu Dominion, Eltima slept.
She had lost an arm and a leg—her state gruesome, but her face was peaceful.
Zeritz looked at her with a hopeless expression.
"Hm."
Sometime earlier, Kryphi had entered the laboratory and now looked at him in discomfort.
"What are you doing, master?"
"... Kryphi."
Zeritz glanced up at him, then at Eltima again.
Kryphi sighed, crossing his arms.
"I heard the gist of it. That we're supposed to go kill the Devil of Power or whatever."
"... It's too strong."
"I'd guess so. Since it did that to Lady Eltima."
Kryphi shrugged.
"But didn't you say that Lady Eltima managed to inflict a serious injury on it? Then at least don't miss that chance."
"......."
Zeritz remained silent.
He had been almost no help in the battle against the Devil of Power.
When Eltima risked her life with a strike, he'd been kicked aside and was of no use.
And in the final moment, even when he had a chance, he couldn't kill Vandello since he fled to save Eltima.
Would his participation in another battle make a difference?
"Hm, it's strange. Normally, you'd be raging and demanding revenge right now."
Kryphi stroked his chin, cocking his head.
"Don't tell me you've already lost to the Devil of Power?"
"......."
"I see. The man who boasted of his 'Invincible Sword' title now looks like a lost puppy. How laughable."
Kryphi grinned, but Zeritz kept silent.
He had nothing to say.
Even in this moment of being insulted, Vandello still terrified him.
"Well, it's fine. I was starting to think you were washed up anyway. I'm officially the strongest now, am I not? Might as well pass on your sword to me. At this point, I should be recognized by it, right?"
Divine Sword, Grivolt.
The sword Eltima had entrusted to Zeritz.
—Please keep it safe until someone worthy comes to wield it.
Of course, Zeritz had not awakened its power.
The nickname Invincible Sword was earned by his own ability, and sword quality didn't really matter much to him now.
So he didn't care about holding an unawakened Divine Sword.
Kryphi stretched out his hand.
"If you're not planning to fight, leave. I don't have time."
"......."
Zeritz hung his head.
He said nothing—and just unclipped his sword and lowered it to the floor.
"Hm. I used to respect you, but seeing you fall this far is sad."
Kryphi wore a bitter expression as he picked up the sword and turned away.
"My student and I will avenge you. Just stay put, oh Invincible swordsman."
"......."
Just then, as Zeritz said nothing, Eltima—lying dormant—slowly opened her eyes.
"Zeritz."
"L-lady Eltima!"
As she opened her eyes, Zeritz hurried to her side.
Eltima, her eyes half-closed, looked at him.
"Why are you still here?"
"Lady Eltima..."
"You still have to defeat the Devil of Power. Didn't you say you'd fulfill my dream for me? Isn't that right?"
At her words, Zeritz's face fell further.
"I... I failed."
She gave him a gentle smile.
"Hehe. That's all right. Anyone can fail. I failed, and so did you."
"N-no, lady Eltima, you..."
"But failure can't be the end."
Eltima met Zeritz's gaze.
Even now, with one arm and one leg lost, her eyes still shone.
"Don't give up. You have to keep going until you reach the end you desire."
"......."
Seeing the light in her eyes, Zeritz was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile.
"I understand."
"Hehe. That's right. Then, I... will just rest a little more..."
With that, Eltima softly closed her eyes.
Zeritz watched her for a moment, then slowly got up.
With his usual disinterested face, he approached Kryphi.
Tap!
"?"
Zeritz snatched the Divine Sword, Grivolt, from Kryphi's hands.
He said brusquely,
"No matter how I think about it, I still can't entrust this to you."
"Oh, you just needed a few words from Lady Eltima to turn around, is that it?"
Kryphi sneered.
But Zeritz retorted without batting an eye.
"Of course. I always follow Lady Eltima's words."
"Quite the noble sentiment."
"Hah! You'll never understand what it's like to have someone worth giving everything to."
Kryphi just snorted at him.
"I'd rather not know."
Whoosh!
Just then, Luca Traverse's group returned.
Wylde was there, having apparently recovered.
"I'm finished. All that's left is to fight the Devil of Power. Are you ready?"
"Huh, as luck would have it, we just finished. But..."
Kryphi eyed him with a strange expression.
"What should I call you? Miss Luca?"
"... Tsk."
Luca Traverse clicked his tongue, clearly disliking the title.
Then Wylde, standing beside him, spoke drily.
"He's Luca, but not Luca, so shouldn't we call him Luca Two?"
"......."
A horrendous naming sense.
As everyone looked at him awkwardly, Luca Traverse suddenly remembered something.
'It's always the masked swordsman Willow who defeats the Devil of Power...'
He opened his mouth slowly.
"My name is Willow."
"?"
In the original story, the one who defeated the Devil of Power was always the strongest, the masked swordsman Willow.
'And I defeated Wylde Traverse.'
Luca Traverse had finally defeated Wylde Traverse.
This meant that, in this story, the strongest swordsman was Luca Traverse.
And the strongest swordsman had only one name.
"Willow, huh."
Wylde looked unusually intrigued.
Looking at him—no, at Willow—he said,
"That's quite a good name."
"... So you say."
Willow answered sullenly and looked around.
"Looks like the swordsmen here will have to face the Devil of Power."
"Ah, someone has to protect the academy too."
Herote, watching the group, added.
At that, Willow looked at Milia and Isella.
"You two should be able to guard this place."
"Haa, so house-sitting is my job again?"
Milia grumbled, then shook her head.
"Well, now's not the time to complain. We'll handle things here—just make sure you defeat that Devil of Power no matter what!"
"Good luck."
Milia and Isella wished Willow well.
He gave a slight nod and Ottbo, standing nearby, spoke up.
"I'll go too."
"?"
Everyone looked confused.
But Willow, who understood about the drive magic, was unfazed.
"It will be dangerous."
"It always is."
Ottbo replied calmly.
Willow nodded slowly.
"Be careful."
"Got it!"
With the departure team confirmed, Milia took out the Dimension Core.
"I'll send you now, so gather close."
The brothers, Willow and Wylde.
The master and disciple, Kryphi and Zeritz.
And finally, their friend, Ottbo.
"Everyone, be careful."
― Perfect Control
The hunt for the Devil of Power had begun.