“…Haaaah!” (Lay)
Using the full power of the Sword of Three Races, Lay pushed Shin away.
Taking advantage of his momentary loss of balance, he swung his sword at his right flank.
However, that was to bait him. Shin gave him an opening on purpose, completely predicted his attack, and flawlessly dodged it with minimal movement.
At the same time, he stepped forward and swung his Pillage Blade at him with perfect timing.
And yet, though Gilionojes’ blade seemed impossible to avoid, it only cut through the air.
Lay’s approach was also to bait him. He predicted the trajectory of his sword and snuck behind him.
Shin turned around and waved his Pillage Blade.
At that same moment, Lay swung the Sword of Three Races down.
The two swords clashed.
Wind pressure and sparks of magic power scattered around them, and both blades were entangled in each other.
“This is quite the direct swordsmanship you have.” (Shin)
“I’m flattered by your praise.” (Lay)
“However, your technique is still lacking.” (Shin)
At the same time as those words, fresh blood gushed out from Lay’s shoulder.
In a blindingly fast motion, Shin had struck him with his Pillage Blade.
“…Hmph…!” (Lay)
Lay and Shin crossed blades once again.
In the span of an instant, they sliced at each other a dozen times, and Lay’s right thigh was hit.
“I’m not… done yet…!” (Lay)
They clashed a third time.
Lay swung his Sword of Three Races with all his might, yet Shin successfully parried it, and cut his right chest open.
“Kh…!” (Lay)
Lay jumped back and put some distance.
“I see you have successfully defended your vital points. Not letting the Pillage Blade deprive you of anything is no small feat. The question is, how long will you be able to keep this up?” (Shin)
His uncanny brilliance with the sword surpassed even his previous performances.
Perhaps it was due to his love for his daughter, but Shin had completely overwhelmed Lay.
“U-Umm… It’s over now, isn’t it…? This match is only in three rounds, right? Hasn’t my dad already struck him three times now?” (Misa)
“What are you saying? They’re still in the first round.” (Anos)
Misa made a face as if she didn’t understand what I was saying.
“A three-round match lasts until one of them has died three times.” (Anos)
“…That sort of match exists…?” (Misa)
“Don’t worry about it. This three-round rule was common in sword fights two thousand years ago. Both Shin and Lay are used to it.” (Anos)
Misa looked at both Shin and Lay while biting her own lips as they locked swords and pushed against each other.
“Hmm. This must be the part where they both share their unwavering feelings.” (Anos)
“Umm… It looks to me like they’re simply slashing at each other with everything they have, though. Can they really have a conversation under these circumstances…?” (Misa)
“Yeah. Well then, I’ll translate for you.” (Anos)
Using <Thought Communication Leaks>, I tried to let Misa in on how the two of them felt.
“This is all my personal interpretation, though. There may be a few mistranslations along the way, but this should give you a general understanding of their feelings.” (Anos)
At that moment, Lay made his move.
As he did before, he pushed Shin away, leaving a gap between them, and followed up with a strike of his Sword of Three Races.
His courage was overflowing in that sword.
Please let me marry your daughter!! (Lay)
Shin’s sword blocked Evansmana’s powerful slash.
Never. (Shin)
An unfathomable resolve overflowed from Shin’s demon sword.
However, Lay paid it no mind, and launched an onslaught with his Sword of Three Races.
In the span of an instant, Shin was hit by thirty consecutive sword strikes faster than the eye could see.
At the same time, Shin flashed his demon sword.
The two fighters crossed blades at maximum speed, as if competing with each other.
It was truly a spectacle of unwavering thoughts and feelings clashing.
Putting their convictions and pride on the line, the Hero Kanon and the Demon King’s right hand man Shin now clashed their holy and demon swords.
Lay was the challenger, and Shin was his adversary.
Their strong feelings manifested as sword sparks flying from the blades colliding.
Please give me your daughter! I promise to make her happy! I will dedicate my life to it! (Lay)
Never, never, never, never, never, never! (Shin)
“…Very impressive… An unbreakable core concealed inside a tender sword…” (Lay)
“It means you are a hundred years too early to challenge me.” (Shin)
“Then I will gain a hundred years’ worth of skill while trading blows with you!” (Lay)
Lay absorbed the momentum of the Pillage Blade with his Sword of Three Races, as if to absorb Shin’s technique.
The latter staggered a bit, as if he had used up his strength.
What problem do you have with me? If there is anything about me that displeases you, I will fix it! (Lay)
That sword of desperation he waved with the vigor of marriage in order to have their relationship approved was truly the sword of courage. This wasn’t the sort of resolve one could demonstrate to any ordinary man.
Giving it your all from the start was a testament of earnestness. Even if one understood that, It wasn’t always easy to make up one’s mind.
Hence the courtship blow, which was only possible because Lay was known as the Hero.
Cease your jesting. You are a hundred years too early to be talking about marriage with your level of skill. You cannot protect my daughter! (Shin)
The merciless blade that struck down that blow of courage without question was just what you’d expect from the Demon King’s right-hand man.
He was truly the pinnacle of an unreasonably impregnable sword that transcended both reason and common sense.
Please give me your daughter, please give me your daughter, please give me your daughter! (Lay)
Never, never, never, never, never, never! Not in this century! (Shin)
Sword to sword, and blade to blade.
In contrast to their intense sword fight where they put their respective convictions on the line, their magic powers were low and fading away.
What they were both aiming for were the hidden arts of their swords. Or in other words, a killing blow.
However, for Lay, who possessed seven sources, it was extremely difficult to completely reduce his magic power to nothing.
Shin was the first to reach that state of emptiness.
“Pillage Blade, first hidden art:…” (Shin)
The tip of Gilionojes bent like a whip, and attacked Lay in a phantasmagoric way, like a living creature.
“<Dispossession>.” (Shin)
Give me back my daughter. (Shin)
Lay was instantly struck six times in a row.
He was helpless, and had lost his life six times.
He collapsed on the spot, as if his strength had been drained from him.
“This makes six rounds in my favor. It appears you were two hundred years too early.” (Shin)
“L… Lay-san!” (Misa)
With her blood drained from her face, Misa ran to Lay lying on the ground.
Then, a magic circle appeared on his body, and the <Resurrection Ingall> spell was cast on him.
Lay abruptly got up.
Shin’s cold stare pierced him.
“If you have learned your lesson, then do not take Misa out too late at night. Otherwise next time, I may end up not taking away your life, but your very roots instead.” (Shin)
Shin turned his back on him and left.
“Dad—… I mean, Sensei, please wait a minute…!” (Misa)
As Misa rushed over, Shin stumbled and fell to one knee.
“Eh…? A-Are you all right?!” (Misa)
Misa looked at Shin’s face with concern.
“Yes…” Shin said.
Then he put his hand on his left chest.
There was a slight smear of blood.
“…<Heaven Splitter>.” Shin muttered.
It was exceedingly difficult for Lay, who had seven sources, to perform his hidden sword arts as he was.
But at that moment, he had just barely managed to reach the right state.
He didn’t take Shin’s life with it, but the fact remained that his Magic Eyes didn’t even see him swing the blade.
“…Thinking back on it, Reno also asked me to marry her immediately…” he said as if thinking about the past before standing back up.
“Misa. Let me tell you just one thing.” (Shin)
He opened his mouth and looked over his shoulder, avoiding eye contact with her.
“I will not approve of your relationship unless it is with a man capable of defeating me, at least.” (Shin)
“…W-Well you say that, but there is hardly any man who can beat you… You are just too strong, Dad…” (Misa)
Shin left the place without listening to Misa’s complaint.
He added something along the way.
“Also, please do not lie. If you are going to come home late, at least send a message via <Thought Communication Leaks>. I will not press you for an excuse.” (Shin)
“Eh…? Um, does this mean…?” (Misa)
“Reno was worried about you.” (Shin)
Misa looked back at Lay with a smile.
He responded with a bright one.
Shin quickly walked away from there. Or it could be that the Sword of Three Races slightly cut the fate of his stubborn parental love that made him unable to approve of her relationship.
