Chapter 25: 25

Wisteria was momentarily taken aback by the young man who seemed to embody fearlessness and irreverence.

Suddenly, the sword in her hand became heavy and cold.

“Don’t be arrogant, brat. As you are now, you’re far below Irene. You are not even qualified to be my temporary master.”

A voice with a sternness that couldn’t be compared to how it was normally resounded from the sword.

Wisteria’s face remained motionless as she quietly tightened her grip on Salutis. Wisteria was in no mood for their usual frivolous banter.

——Even though they had familiar exchanges daily and she considered it an incomparable friend, Salutis was a free sword that chose its own master.

But Lloyd’s provocative smile only deepened.

“Of course not. I underestimated that lady witch and was defeated by her. I have no intention of asking you to accept me as your master. But I have no intention of backing down either.”

How obstinate, Wisteria was about to say in exasperation, but she stopped.

Lloyd slowly stood up and closed the distance between them.

She strengthened the grip of her hand that was holding Salutis, but that was all. ——As long as she could use magic, she would never be defeated by this young man.

Lloyd himself dropped to one knee, so close that their fingertips would have touched if they had reached out to touch each other.

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With a movement that was even graceful, he hung his silver head.

“I thank you for your mercy.”

Wisteria widened her eyes slightly. She blinked her black lashes and looked down at the young man.

——She was surprised that she seemed to have been thanked honestly.

There was no hint of sarcasm or falsehood in his voice or gestures.

“I can’t repay you right now. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“…No, I don’t care about that. If your body is fine, then while you still can――”

You should return. Wisteria was about to repeat that again, but her words got stuck in her throat despite herself when those golden eyes looked up at her.

“You used magic. ——Magic I haven’t ever seen before.”

Wisteria’s light purple eyes widened. The young man’s tone changed slightly, and she realized after a moment’s delay that he was talking about the <Slacken> spell.

——In the other world, there was <magic> that interfered with nature, but not yet with life.

“And when you say that you carried me here, you must have used a <Transfer> spell, didn’t you?”

Wisteria answered shortly in the affirmative.

<Transfer> was a high level spell. Even among the magicians who served the royal court, only a few of them could use it.

Lloyd’s eyes darkened with the light of deliberation.

“You’ve not only served as a Guardian, you’ve survived, and you can use rare spells such as <Transfer>. And you are the sole master of the holy sword Salutis. ——No, you’re its master because of all those things.”

It’s just temporary, Salutis let out a frustrated grumble.

Wisteria raised her eyebrows, not knowing where the conversation was going.

“Magic isn’t particularly a big deal. It’s just tha it hasn’t been worked out in the other…in your world yet.”

“And you worked it out over here. Is that what you meant?”

She had intended to deny it, but Lloyd responded as though his conviction was deepened.

Then, a sharp smile appeared on his mouth. It was a smile that was far from friendly, but provocative and belligerent―like the smile of someone trying to uncover what is being hidden.

“I’ve heard the theory that miasma is more toxic than mana, and that if you can handle that instead, you can use powerful magic. But I had never seen it put into practice. ——Until you used it.”

Wisteria had to stay quiet this time. Because it was true.

——In the past, she had not been able to use magic just because she was resistant to miasma.

However, after coming to the Grey Lands as the Guardian, she was exposed to the rift between life and death, and with the advice of Salutis, she was able to use magic.

It was only later that she learned why she couldn’t use magic before.

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This constitution, which made her resistant to miasma, was also, on the contrary, a constitution that allowed her to manipulate miasma easily.

It was a constitution that made her skilled at converting the miasma into magic, rather than mana.

Magic that interfered with life, which was difficult to do with mana, becane possible by converting miasma.

——The fact was that miasma could sometimes even cause mutations, such as immortality.

“I thought I had nothing left to learn about swords and magic, but it seems that I was wrong.”

Lloyd said, without any hint of fear or hesitation.

Wisteria was taken aback. Then she was half-amazed, half-impressed.

The young man’s matter-of-fact tone showed that he was not overly confident, but believed it to be the natural truth. Certainly, she could see that he was a talented young man, but――

Lloyd’s eyes moved faintly and turned to Salutis.

“Holy sword <Salutis>. You said that I’m no better than this Wisteria Irene. Does that mean that you recognize me as your master if I surpass this lady witch?”

“…If you fight against her and win, I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t forget those words.”

Wisteria felt a little anxious with the conversation that was going on without her. When she called the sword’s name reproachfully, the impudent holy sword spoke sarcastically.

“I don’t really mind. ——Oh, I forgot to mention, kid. This Irene is a woman whom I have admitted as my owner, even if only temporarily. At least try to handle the <Black Lightning> that she has mastered.”

Lloyd looked at her quizzically, and this time Wisteria widened her eyes.

“Hey, Salt!”

“What? If he wants to be my master, this much is reasonable. If he can’t do it, that’s all there is to it.”

“You know, I’m the one who actually has to take that on! And treating the <Black Lightning> so lightly…”

“——What is this <Black Lightning>? Is it some kind of magic you’ve invented?”

As expected, Lloyd questioned her.

Wisteria, a little fed up, let out a long breath and explained.

“It’s a magic I use when I have to stop a large demon by brute force. It’s a lightning-like attack magic, if you will. It uses a large amount of miasma, so it’s very taxing and consumes a lot of energy. I don’t have a lot of opportunities to use it, so its usefulness is not very…”

“So it’s a big, high-intensity technique of your own devising. It seems that you’re a treasure trove of learning after all.”

The eyes of Lloyd were set on Wisteria and shining brightly.

She intended to explain that it wasn’t very useful, but it instead seemed to stir up the young man’s feelings further.

The signs of trouble were only getting stronger. Wisteria looked at Salutis with bitterness.

A sharp light flashed in his golden eyes.

“I will defeat you and take the holy sword Salutis.”

It was nothing else other than a declaration of war.

Wisteria was stunned by the sensation of being challenged to a duel head-on.

No jesting, no contempt, or pretense was found in Lloyd. He was filled with a fighting spirit that would have frightened and overwhelmed her in the past, when she had never even held a weapon properly.

——But now, she was no longer a frail young woman. She had become a Guardian and had survived long years in the land of the dead together with Salutis. No one else could have done this, even if no one else could acknowledged it.

She wasn’t so farsighted and philosophical that she could stay silent when she was lightheartedly told that she would be surpassed.

Therefore, Wisteria also smiled at the young man. While gripping Salutis tightly.

“If you can do it, then try it.”

Lloyd’s words, which sounded as if he was trying to rile her up, were answered in this way.

The young man’s golden eyes widened slightly. Perhaps it was an unexpected reaction.

But in the next instant, Lloyd’s eyes grew brighter and he opened his mouth.

“So, take me on as your apprentice.”

Wisteria widened her eyes at those words, spoken so nonchalantly.

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