Chapter 403: Surely, These Were Gifts from my Father and Mother

Ars seeks battle.

This Divine Servant does not forgive those who turn their backs on battle.

Ars deemed them a worthy opponent.

In a way, perhaps that was their misfortune.

▽

I was running through the labyrinth's corridors with Gio.

Right now, Ars was about 30 reters behind, chasing us.

We had tried to get ahead a few times, but after a brief defense, we changed direction and somehow managed to escape.

[Are you alright, Gio!?]

[Hahh…… hahh…… Looks like you'd be faster than me in a race……]

[You've taken a serious wound…… In situations like this, I should buy us some time.]

I focused on listening carefully. I could faintly hear Ars' footsteps.

Still, footsteps are generally absorbed by the walls.

Therefore, I had to keep checking Ars’ position by sight.

I turned my face back to the front.

Little by little.

The gap between us and Ars was closing.

(That Divine Servant's strength…… Is it proportional to "the strength of us two"……? If that’s the case…… If I let Gio escape first and face him alone————- will he drop back to the strength he had when he was just facing me? The strength he had when I first encountered him……)

If that’s the case……

(If I stay behind to buy time, maybe I can get the injured Gio away first……)

Gio, still catching his breath……

[I don't know how exactly you're feeling responsible, but don't even think about staying behind and buying time, got it?]

[But…… if my guess is right, that would be the best way to buy time.]

[Even with one arm, I'm stronger than you.]

[This isn't about that.]

[Hahh…… hahh…… Your face right now…… it looks like you're about to face death.]

[There's someone waiting for you to come back alive…… right!?]

From behind, I heard Ars’ voice.

[ " Don’t run away———–! If you escape now, you'll probably run for the rest of your life! If you don’t stand your ground now, when will you?! You ran from the Golden Eyes before…… you lost someone important, right?! Are you going to lose someone again by running away?! Leaving behind the child, the memento of the person you lost?! I mean…… What about that monster with the human face and Golden Eyes…… What’s the big deal? If I kill it, I can! That Golden Eyes with human face is going down! I’ll kill it! I swear I will…… So, I leave my comrades and the other Golden Eyes to you! I’ll kill that one! I’ll kill it———– kill it, kill it, kill it! I’ll kill it! " ]

His words sounded full of desperate resolve.

Perhaps those were words Ars had said when he fought a Human-Faced back when he was human.

Gio glanced behind to gauge the distance between us and Ars.

[We're still fine……]

[ ? ]

[When it comes to this kind of thing, the ones waiting are the ones who suffer more.]

[

[So, don't say anything stupid for the sake of the ones waiting for you!]

[……Sorry.]

[Well———- having a strong sense of responsibility isn’t a bad thing.]

I smiled softly.

[What’s with that?]

[Well…… I think I heard something similar from Touka before.]

[Yeah, he'd say that.]

[……?]

[I can totally see him saying that.]

I see.

I could see why Touka had a favorable impression of this black Leopardkin warrior.

(……That said, what should we do?)

The distance between us was closing slowly.

Ars had probably stopped trying to get ahead because the gap was closing too quickly.

He may have been thinking that at this rate, he would catch up.

(Should I drop my weapons to lighten the load? No…… Considering that he might evolve to a speed just a bit faster than ours…… It's too dangerous to give up weapons that could help me defend myself in a fight.)

There’s also the risk of discarded weapons being thrown at us from behind.

Even now, I couldn’t be sure when Armia’s sword might come flying at us.

(Maybe dropping my weapons goes against the warrior’s code…… But if I gave up the "weapons" we discarded, he might not hesitate to use them……)

Gio was probably keeping his katana with him, cautious of that.

If that wasn't the case……

It would be better for both of us if I hold onto the lighter Magic Sword I had….

[Divine Servant…… I didn’t realize they could be this troublesome.]

Gio muttered irritably.

[But, the information we gathered in our fight with Ars might be invaluable. If we happen to meet an ally capable of defeating that Divine Servant, at least they wouldn’t have to go through the same close-quarters battle we did———- And…… maybe, our information will be the key to victory.]

I turned forward and continued.

[It’s definitely worth passing on.]

Gio tried to speak again.

But I raised a finger to my lips, signaling for silence.

[————There’s someone ahead.]

And then, those figures appeared.

There were five medium-sized Sacraments.

Gio asked.

[Can you handle them?]

[We have no choice but to.]

Without stopping, the two of us took an attacking stance.

[Listen, don’t stop running…… just focus on charging through———– any that you miss will just be dragged along.]

[Understood.]n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

[———–Le

Without losing any momentum, the two of us swung our blades as we charged through.

We cut down three of the five, continuing to rush forward.

But……

(Guh……)

It wasn’t possible to maintain full speed without slowing down even slightly.

Then, when I turned to check on Ars, what I saw was———-

" ! "

The two Sacraments we had missed, their torn bodies fluttering through the air.

[ " It doesn't matter if you're enemy or ally! Don't get in the way of my fight! Uwooooohhhhh——–! " ]

The gap with Ars was closing even more.

(At this r

I gritted my teeth and faced forward.

(Guh…… ————, …

Somehow……

[————, ……Gio, listen carefully!]

I shouted, pushing my voice out as much as I could.

[I recognize this path! I’m sure it splits ahead, left and right! We’ll split into two and escape! Got it!?]

[Huh!?]

[It’s all or nothing! We have to join up with allies who can fight that monster with the seemingly endless regeneration! Of those of us with information on him——— one of us has to tell them! The distance to that Divine Servant is already under 20 reters! He’ll be close enough to strike with his whip-blades soon! If things keep going like this———– he’ll catch up! Then, even if we split up…… one of us must pass on the information we got from fighting Ars! We must hold on!]

[You…… what are

[First———- we’ll keep charging straight ahead, drawing Ars with us! Let’s go!]

[————-Tch, fine! I told you! I trust your judgment! I won’t go back on the words I said earlier!]

[You have my gratitude!]

We passed through the corridor and emerged into a wider space.

There was another passage ahead in this room.

Just as I remembered, it split ahead.

Gio and I, having entered the room, aimed for the path directly across from us.

A bit delayed, Ars also leaped into the room and started following us.

[ " WAAAAAAAAIT————! WAIT A D*MN MINUUUUUUUTE——

I turned back.

Perhaps because we had been running so hard.

Thud!

Unable to slow down in time, I crashed into the white wall of the room with my back.

[Ugh……!]

□

My ears…… my hearing.

This is my strong point that perhaps surpass Gio's.

Back when I fought alongside Ashinto and Duke Zuan's personal soldiers———

It was my hearing that allowed me to accurately assess their numbers.

Even in this labyrinth, which muffles sounds, if I concentrate, I can pick up on sounds and presences ahead of me.

That man also relied on this ear of mine.

Other than that———— there's also my ability to sense presence.

When I fought against Ars earlier, I quickly detected Gio's approach.

Because I was able to notice "that" ahead of time.

The ability to grasp such a thing.

Surely, these were gifts from my father and mother.

Thanks to them, I could "get ahead" and notice things.

Additionally————- my voice, when I gave it my all, was within reach.

I could perceive that too.

Thus, I should have been able to convey it.

This time, unlike with Gio earlier, it wasn’t a loud voice to drown things out———— but rather, a loud voice to convey something.

I included a "trick" in my words so that Ars wouldn’t notice, but———-

If it's that man……

I’m sure he’ll pick up on it.

I’m sure he’ll make use of it.

I’m

He’ll take the best possible action.

That is something I can trust he'll do.

▽

My eyes captured it.

The silver-haired woman opening her mouth……

[                     Binding Curse, Unleash.

The shining blade of the Princess Knight, stepping forward, deflecting the approaching whip blades.

And seeing the black-clad man with scorching eyes……

His outstretched arm directed towards

[————<Paraly

I called out the man's name.

[Touka.]