Chapter 253: CH 252

The Magi Shibley broke into pieces that now lay scattered on the ground.

We could only look on in shock.

“With this, you’ve lost your trump card.”

Rates laughed menacingly.

Though frustrating, it was just as he said.

If we didn’t have the Magi Shibley, we had no way of breaking the Demon Queen’s magic barrier.

“Now then, you really did a number on me, perhaps I should have you depart.”

“Quite the line coming from you. Weren’t you the one pulling us around?”

“Was that the case…? In my old age, I can’t seem to remember.”

“Hah, get real.”

Rodd-sama’s attitude suddenly worsened.

Rates had really pulled a fast one on us, so it was understandable.

In retrospect, the guy had regenerated repeatedly during the Pope’s failed assassination attempt.

This was an error on our part.

“Mei, Alea, lend me your ears.”

““…?””

Rodd-sama whispered something directly into their ears.

The two nodded in response.

“Having a strategy meeting are we? I don’t mind. Struggle as much as you’d like.”

It seems that Rates was feeling quite good now that he had completed his task.

Without even trying to interfere, he calmly waited.

“You got it?”

“Yup.”

“I understand.”

Finishing their discussion, they promptly took formation. Rodd-sama and Alea in front, with Mei in the back.

“Have you finished?”

“Yeah, sorry to keep you waiting.”

“I don’t mind. After all, you will all soon die.”

“Too bad for you, I’m a bit of a sore loser.”

“You sure do talk. But well, seeing guys like you lose heart is one of the things that brings me joy in my old age.”

“He’s coming!”

Rates again rushed forward for a heavy strike.

“―!”

Though Alea momentarily tensed up, she quickly moved her body to dodge Rates’ rush.

“There!”

As his attack was avoided, Rates needed time to recover his stance. Alea took the opportunity to land a sharp slash.

The sword, a magic artifact inherited from Dorothea, left a deep scar in Rates’ tough skin.

“Mm. That stung just a bit.”

“It’s my teacher’s sword. Of course it would!”

“Alea, don’t! It’s a trap!”

“!?”

“It hurts.”

Alea tried to run, but it seemed that her sword had cut too deep and couldn’t be pulled out.

Rates harshly whipped his arm, bouncing Alea off like a rubber ball.

“Alea!”

“I-I’m okay…”

Claire’s expression soured, but it seems that Alea hadn’t sustained any major injuries.

“Hm?”

“You really saved me, Mei!”

“Leave it to me!”

It seems Mei had cast some sort of magic to form a cushion between Alea and Rates’ arm.

For my daughter, she had displayed wonderful tact.

“Hmph, how bothersome.”

“Don’t you think you’re giving them too much attention?”

As Rates sighed, Rodd-sama slashed at him from behind.

Though his sword was broken, fire filled out the broken part of the blade.

“You should just sleep.”

“!?”

Though Rates looked vulnerable, he had actually read Rodd-sama’s actions.

Dodging Rodd-sama’s sword by bending his upper body backward in a way that would be impossible for human joints, he quickly corrected his stance and brought his sickles down on Rodd-sama.

“Gahaahh…!”

Rodd-sama was sent flying.

He narrowly managed to put his sword between himself and the sickles, but was unable to get into a proper position and brace the fall. His body slammed into the Magi Shibley’s debris.

It seems Mei’s defense did not make it in time.

““Rodd-sama!””

“Hmm, this boy has quite the head on him. If it were just you girls, I doubt you would’ve been able to make that last call.”

So that’s what had happened.

Mei had likely formed a telepathy channel. Using that channel, Rodd-sama was giving instructions to Mei and Alea in real time.

That’s why she made it in Alea’s case, but couldn’t do the same for Rodd-sama.

“It looks like I’ll need to dispose of you first after all.”

“…”

Rates once again charged forward, this time at Rodd-sama who was struggling to get up.

“Stop!”

“I won’t allow it!”

Mei launched magic and Alea swung her sword, but neither were enough to stop Rates’ momentum.

“It’s over.”

Along with the sound of a car crash, Rodd-sama’s body flew up into the air.

“Rodd-sama!”

Claire-sama screamed.

As Rodd-sama’s body slammed into the ground, a heavy noise could be heard.

“There’s one. Well then, girls, it’s your―”

“… Heh… heheh…”

This weak laugh had come from Rodd-sama.

“… Your stubbornness is quite astounding. You’re still alive?”

“Didn’t I say…? I couldn’t bear… to show the woman I love… such a pitiful sight.”

Though he was putting up a brave front, Rodd-sama could no longer stand.

“Hm… while your efforts are praiseworthy, what can you do? You appear to be on death’s door.”

“I’m not gonna do anything… it’s already over.”

“?”

Rates’ face was filled with doubt, but he suddenly dropped to his knees.

“Mm? What’s this…?”

“Heh, still haven’t realized it…?”

“M-my strength is fading…!”

Rates’ large frame was visibly deflating, akin to a balloon.

“You, what did you…!?”

“The Magi Shibley you destroyed… I let it take its revenge.”

It appeared that the Magi Shibley’s sword-like protrusion was sticking out from Rates’ back.

“Wha!?”

“That part is a magic artifact. Its job is to release the collected magic energy. I have no idea how your regeneration works, but I’d bet it needs magic energy, yeah? Then I’ll just have this guy scatter it all.”

“Gnnh…, I can’t pull it out…!”

Rates desperately tried to separate himself and the Magi Shibley’s part, but as though it had merged with his body, it wouldn’t move an inch.

“Remember this as your souvenir to hell. In a battle of wits amongst the weak, no one tops us humans.”

“In this way… to something like this I’ll…!”

Rates’ body, which had shrunk to the size of a cow, continued to shrink.

“Pass on, old man.”

“… Hmph. To think you had this up your sleeve. Luck is also part of skill, eh? This is why I despise humans.”

Perhaps having given up, Rates spoke as though sighing in lament.

“So, in the end, how does your regeneration work?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Ain’t it obvious? If someone likes you pops up again, I want to be able to kill them reliably.”

“…Kufu… hahaha…!”

Rates’ shrinking body shook in laughter.

After laughing for some time, as though saying it’s fine as he’ll be dead either way, he continued.

“When cells are purged from this body, they momentarily become magic energy and decompose before rebinding in their original shape. However, if they are constantly decomposed and dispersed regardless of my will, the command to rebind won’t make it in time. Haha, I’ll finally die! What a good feeling!”

Unexpectedly, Rates seemed very cheerful as he laughed.

“My apologies, Demon Queen. I’ll take my leave here. I’ll be praying for your fortune in battle.”

“You served me well.”

Having exchanged his final words with the Demon Queen, Rates body became but a speck, this time disappearing without a trace.

The Magi Shibley’s part fell onto the ground with a clank.

Rates, who we had thought might’ve been immortal, truly vanished this time, leaving nothing.

“Ahh, that was rough…”

“Rodd-sama!”

“Mei, heal him!”

Mei and Alea rushed to Rodd-sama’s side and began healing him.

Though he was still breathing, his wounds were by no means shallow.

◆◇◆◇◆

“So Rates has passed too…”

The words seemed to spill out of the Demon Queen’s mouth.

I’m sure that the grief that tinged her voice was not something I imagined.

It seems that they were not simply throwaway pawns to her.

“That said, they’ve done me well. As long as that is gone, you all have no way to harm me.”

“Khh…”

Claire-sama big her lip in frustration.

Claire-sama’s Magic Ray, my Absolute Zero, Manaria’s attack magic, Lily’s sword attacks… we had tried it all.

However, the barrier blocked all of them.

We had no options.

“I lost all of the Three Great Archdukes but… perhaps I’ll start by killing everyone except for Claire-sama and think about what to do after that.”

The Demon Queen casually waved her hand horizontally.

I quickly brought up a bulwark composed of tungsten carbide, but the Demon Queen’s black shockwave easily cut it apart.

“Get down!”

I was pushed down onto the ground from behind.

“… You saved me, Claire-sama.”

“That isn’t something we’re able to block. Concentrate on dodging.”

Remaining cautious of follow up attacks, Claire-sama stood and stared at the Demon Queen.

“You’re really struggling. Am I that important to you?”

“It’s not you. Having lost sight of yourself and fallen to evil, I don’t find you attractive in the slightest.”

“…”

“The Rei I loved is the one that never gave up, continued to love me, and lit my path forward.”

“I’m doing the same… though it’s the path to destruction.”

“I’m saying that I reject such a thing.”

Claire-sama tried to take my hand―, however.

“Guh…!”

“I won’t allow you two to form a chorus, that’d be a bit dangerous after all.”

The chorus was the one thing we had yet to try against the Demon Queen.

However, the Demon Queen had been wary, refusing to give us a chance.

“Regardless of what you may think, I will carry out the decision that I’ve made.”

“You stubborn…!”

“Say what you like.”

The Demon Queen shrugged before continuing.

“I have but one desire. To end everything… and disappear myself.”

It seems that even Claire-sama’s words could no longer reach the Demon Queen.