Chapter 40

Intermission Chapter: Yuketsu no Ichizoku

Intermittent short breaths shook the serene air flowing in this place .

[Haaa— haa... haa... haa—]

A very dense forest .

Avoiding the major paths, I continued to run .

The sound of twigs breaking .

This could be a troublesome signal if I was trying to avoid the conspicuous roads in the forest .

But I don’t care even if they heard me .

I shake away the branches on my path .

However, I also made sure that I don’t break more than three pieces .

Does the thinness of my body help with dodging the branches on my path?

I’m making sure that I don’t step on any twigs on my path .

It’s really quiet, but I certainly am running fast .

It’s as if my body is clad in wind .

[—–hm?]

I promptly slowed down my sprint .

(Their presence disappeared...?)

The speed of the trackers must have slowed down .

I must have lost them... is not something I’d think about in this situation .

I don’t think that they would give up so easily .

At that time, I became really bewildered .

Should I fight here or not?

I turned around while I placed my back against the trunk of a tree .

A stance against ambushes .

The pursuers were from— “Yuketsu no Ichizoku” (T/N: Heroic Blood Clan)

They are the descendants of the “Different World Heroes” who had once saved the world .

Some heroes that came from different worlds had children on this continent .

The person who had inherited the blood of Heroes were said to have exceptional physical abilities and talents compared to the ordinary people .

However, I heard they can’t reach the levels of those Heroes who had fought against all evils and grew through multiple battles .

However, comparing them to their ancestors is a story for another time .

It doesn’t change the fact that they’re not an easy opponent who I can easily win against .

I heard that all of the surrounding countries had some families with heroic blood flowing through them . n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

They are important forces for those countries that weren’t able to summon Heroes .

My troubles are still here though .

I could definitely fight back if it’s just against one opponent .

However, it will be difficult if I were to face four people at the same time .

Fatigue had slowly accumulating in my body as I exhaled out a small sigh .

(Apparently, it’s impossible to shake them off— should I use it or not?)

“Spiritual Garment” (T/N: Sei-shiki Reisou)

I decided to get ready for the inevitable .

There is no guarantee that I’d win .

But, I would need to cut them off if I want to escape .

If I can’t escape from them, I should fight them while I still can .

I called out the spirit residing within me .

(I, Seras Ashrain call upon a spiritual garment... I sacrifice my peaceful sleep and offer it to you to form a contract—)

Keeping the spirits’ name in my mind, I speak out the rest of the contract .

(Sylfizea, Ferryl Banger, Will Ozega...)

(T/N: These names might change depending on when they ever appear on the manga . I would sync it to that translation . )

Wind Spirit, Ice Spirit, Light Spirit

Three stripes of colors wrapped around my, Seras’ body .

A combination light green, bluish and white lines .

When the light have started to disappear, I can see myself wearing armor and some other equipment .

These armor and equipment are things I have never worn before .

These were manifested by the power of the spirits .

Formally named, Spiritual Garment .

My appearance looks like I’m the Female Knight of the Light who had appeared in the legends .

My appearance looks like how she was evaluated nowadays .

I unsheathe the sword that’s hanging on my waist .

—-Pisshhiii, pikki—-

The blade of the sword is reinforced by ice .

Blue snowflakes are appearing around the blade as they improve the efficiency of my sword .

Kashha...

An equipment was also slipped on my head and covered my head down to my eyebrows .

The sliding part also hides where I’m looking at .

Spiritual Garment, Final Form .

Of course, my sight is also blocked by the cover in front of my eyes .

But, there’s nothing wrong with it .

The wind informs me of everything that’s around .

My nerves may become overloaded, but my senses were definitely sharpened .

However, compared to my sense of sight, I could easily catch the presence of the enemies’ movements .

I could also anticipate their movements easier too .

I put my ears against the earth .

(The successors of the Heroic Blood’s four-person group of bounty hunters “White Walker”... To think I’d catch the attention of those four... I’ve been really negligent...)

The so-called “Kiba”— Zalash Finebird (T/N: Fang)

The so-called “Kisou Tengai” — Asura (T/N: Demonic Heavenly Body)

The so-called “Geki Atsu” — Jaybin Sengai (T/N: Extreme Pressure)

The so-called “Kenshin” — Magatsu Bradinus (T/N: Sword God)

I sat upright as I move away my ears away from the ground .

Is it because I’ve been running for too long?

Fatigue has accumulated on my brain and body .

I closed my eyes that are hidden inside the hood .

(Athough no one knows of their names in the mercenary circle, I have heard of a remarkable and yet atrocious four-man group... It seems that I have never heard of any good rumors at all...)

I’ve fought with them multiple times until here .

They’re certainly strong .

However, I don’t think they’ve seriously attacked me yet .

It’s as if they were probably trying to measure my ability .

However— they have soon started to gradually attack seriously .

That’s why I’m prepared to fight them right here as I’m reinforced by my determination .

(I can’t let them catch me . )

I prepared for them as I grasped the handle of my sword tightly with both of my hands .

(Right in this place, I’ll defeat them!)

I waited for any signs of movement .

I’m also making sure that I have sharpened my senses, so that I could see through any kind of movements nearby .

[.........]

A single drop of sweat stained my white cheek as it flow along my skin .

It has been quite an amount of time since I’ve been in this state .

(Are they still not moving yet...? No... They’re probably waiting for something—)

—zokkkkuuu—

As if I was pierced by my sword enchanted with ice, I could a chill pierce through my spines .

Are they finally going to start getting serious?

Our game of tag had come to an end huh .

The playtime is over .

Is this when it really starts?

The time for the real hunt .

And— I unintentionally released one of my hands from the handle of my sword .

This is because I have this strange feeling of discomfort somewhere on my throat .

I put my hand over my mouth .

(What... What is this?)

I feel like something wrong will happen .

It’s like I’m assaulted by a sudden urge to vomit .

I feel shaky .

Everything in my sight looks intensely irregular .

I don’t even know if the White Walker became stronger or weaker as time had passed .

As my recognition of the situation became clearer, I can’t help but be agitated .

I don’t know how strong my opponents are .

I can’t even analyze their strength correctly .

I have made a foolish decisions, huh .

To think that I had thought that I could fight against these strange enemies...

Can I even fight back against weird enemies like these?

Heroic Blood Clan .

Was it imprudent of me to attempt to fight against an enemy who carries the legendary blood?

Should I have ran away at that time?

Gasaaa... .

I quickly reacted upon the sudden sounds I heard .

Holding the blade enchanted with ice, I charged towards the direction of the sounds .

(...no . . oh no!?)

The sounds I heard just now was just a trick .

On the thicket diagonally behind my back— I felt a presence .

[]

(–eh?)

Who the heck is this?

He... doesn’t look like he’s from the White Walker .

I can’t feel any “strength” coming out of him at all .

But, it’s strange .

Something’s unusual .

He doesn’t look as strong as those four .

Yes...

He’s not stronger than them at all .

And yet— the spirits were frightened of him .

Furthermore,

(It’s as if his presence... It’s as if they’re from a monster...?)

One more thing that’s suspicious was, I can’t feel any hostility from him at all .

It’s as if his harmful thoughts are so thin .

Most of all...

(My body... can’t move...? Why...!?)

[I felt your intent to attack me— Well, thanks to your killing intent, though I also felt some impurities on your killing intent mixed in . Anyway, that’s beyond the point . ]

A man’s voice .

What in the world is he saying?

(There are impurities on my killing intent...?)

[I felt that there’s something different from the four-person group I had met earlier, so I guess I’ll talk to you for a bit . Though I said that, I’ll keep your movement sealed just in case . ]

After a bit of a struggle, I can finally say something .

[What... do... you... want...?]

[If I were to put it simply, I feel like I lost my way . If you’re knowledgeable about this place, tell me where the nearest town or village is . I’m not a local of this place . It’s also because of it that I don’t know those things that you’d usually call common knowledge . That’s why I want you to tell me everything I needto know about this place—]

For a moment, my thoughts came to a halt .

(There’s no signs of falsehood at all...?)

With the help of the spirit of the wind, I am able to determine whether someone tells the “truth” or not .

From the impressions of the spirits, I’ve also understood that the accuracy of this judgement was high .

(Is he really... just a lost person? Moreover...)

There’s one big question that had been bugging me .

He just mentioned earlier of a “four-person group that he had met earlier” .

(Did I hear it correctly—?)

The presence of those four people has disappeared .

What exactly happened to the White Walker?