[Original Novel] Sword of the Heavenly Wind, Episode 195

Chapter 10: The Window of the Sky, and Toward Each Morning
— Episode 195: The Time That Comes —

“Fast... Too fast.”

Niiro muttered to himself as he watched the battle between the attendants and the Four Heavenly Kings unfold.
Someone’s blood spray landed on Niiro.
Midori was in pursuit, but Kuroretsumaru leaped about freely, cutting down the swordsmen trying to attack him while simultaneously fighting Midori.

“O sleeping land of snow, share the deep droplets of life with this person...!”

Dan’s spell emitted a radiance. Dan continued to treat Sophia. And Amaria seemed to be continuously sending defensive magic to herself and Freya.

Thud.

Something came flying over.

This is—.

It was a severed right arm of a swordsman. The hand was still firmly gripping a sword.
Niiro picked it up without hesitation.

“No, Niiro...!”

Amaria’s scream pierced his ears. Niiro picked up the sword along with the severed arm and ran off, wielding it.

“It’s okay, I’ll fight while praying!”

Niiro shouted in his heart while praying as one of the Four Saints.

I will pray! Strongly, deeply! For the continued peace of the world, and for the repose of this brave swordsman’s soul...! I will continue to pray while I fight! I have always been alone. The world inside my heart is more solid than anyone else’s...!

Maybe, he added to himself. Niiro, who had become able to handle multiple weapons at once, prided himself on being naturally good at carrying out multiple thoughts and actions in parallel.

Damn it. But my body feels sluggish. Is it because of the magic cast on me? But how can I stay still any longer...!

When he saw the small figure of Kuroretsumaru leaping up amidst a spray of blood, Niiro felt his body being restrained from behind by a powerful arm.

“Dan...!”

It was Dan.

“Niiro. Leave the fighting to us.”

“But, Sophia-san...”

"Niiro. I want you to protect Sophia and Freya. Along with Amalia."

"Protect Sophia and Freya..."

Dan nodded.

"Going to the front lines isn't the only way to fight. Protecting is also a battle. Sophia has somehow managed to get over the hump. Niiro, I really need you to lend your strength as a warrior to the defense."

Dan's eyes told him that Niiro's role was to protect Freya and the severely wounded Sophia while defending himself.

"Understood. I will protect Sophia and the others."

The moment Niiro nodded—he sensed something flying toward him from the side with tremendous force.
He gasped.

That attendant...!

Kuroretsumaru, who should have been a little further ahead until just a moment ago, had moved to his side before he knew it and was about to pounce on Niiro.
Dan's offensive magic headed toward Kuroretsumaru, and at the same time, the sword in Niiro's hand drew a wide arc.

It didn't hit...!

The sword cut through the air.

"Ugh!"

Kuroretsumaru dove to the ground at Niiro's feet, landed for a moment, then used the momentum to leap up, grabbing Niiro by the collar and flying into the air with him.

"I've finally caught you, Four Saints!"

As it rose high, it bared its fangs. Kuroretsumaru's large, sharp teeth were about to pierce Niiro's neck—.

Oh no...!

He thought, 'Oh no.' It wasn't out of fear for his own life—.

Because of me, the world—!

It was an irreparable regret that the world would be put in danger.
A violent impact and an explosion followed.

Huh...?

Niiro's body had been blown away along with Kuroretsumaru. He couldn't comprehend what had happened or why. But that lasted only a brief moment; the figure of Kuroretsumaru that had been before his eyes vanished, and now he was beginning to fall.

"I cannot let the Four Sages be handed over so easily."

Onyx's voice could be heard.
Vaguely, Niiro understood his situation.
It was likely Onyx's shockwave. Kuroretsumaru must have been blown away by Onyx's shockwave, and he had been knocked out of Kuroretsumaru's hand by the impact. And now, Niiro was about to be slammed into the ground.

If I hit the ground from this height, I'll also—.

The cold wind roared as it struck him.
Dan's figure came into view, chasing after him to catch him.

Sorry, Dan. It doesn't look like you'll make it—.

"Big Brother Niiro!"

There was no impact.
Citrine, who had dived down to reach him, had caught Niiro.

"Four Heavenly Kings Citrine..."

With Ciaran watching, Onyx muttered—and then vanished.

"Onyx!"

Ciaran shouted.

Onyx has vanished and is moving...!

Ciaran surmised that Onyx had judged it difficult to get Niiro now that he was in Citrine's arms.

Damn it...! Onyx...!

He thought he had to predict Onyx's next move.

Who could be attacked next—.

Ciaran hurriedly scanned his surroundings.
Currently, Juliana was being protected by Theodor and Aoi, and Louie was being protected by Reine and Olivia.

Dan is rushing over now, but—at this moment, the only one protecting Freya is Amalia...!

"Hanakonjo, go to Freya!"

"Yeah!"

Ciaran's prediction had indeed been correct.

"Snowstorm, strike the evil king--!"

Beyond the snow, the spell was cut short.

Amalia's voice, an attack spell--!

From every direction, the voices of Dan, Reine, and Olivia chanting attack spells could be heard. Flashes, explosions, and clouds of smoke. Everyone's magic hit, and I could see black hair swirling. The back view of four jet-black wings, it was unmistakably Onyx's jet-black hair.

"Onyx!"

Ciaran witnessed it. Onyx holding Freya in his right arm and Amalia in his left, clutching them by their necks.

"Ah, Ciaran. You're late. You're late, truly. Humans are such things."

Onyx turned around, wearing an ice-cold smile. I must... cut him down!

"Ciaran!"

The scream of Hanakonjo could be heard from behind. Ciaran jumped down from the birch trunk and dashed across the icy ground. His thoughts had stopped. It was instinct. The composed warrior he had cultivated until now was gone, and Ciaran's body moved like a wild animal.

"Ciaran"

A voice called out to Ciaran.

"Ciaran!"

Only then did Ciaran snap out of it.

Astel...!

The Sword of the Heavenly Wind emitted a light.

Damn it, I lost myself...!

Onyx's fingers, which were tightening around Amalia, were moving. Pitch-black darkness was born around his fingers, swirling and condensing into ominous energy.

A shockwave is coming...!

Ciaran held out Aoi's shield in front of him.
It was head-on, and at point-blank range. Even though it was an extremely powerful shield, it was a shield created from Aoi. He didn't think it could fully block the power of Onyx, one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
Onyx's finger was pointed at Ciaran. A cold smile. The black, dense darkness was about to explode.

Oh no--!

He could hear Hanakonjo's scream. He could hear everyone's spells.
White snow pellets passed in front of Ciaran--.

Softly.

Something like a beautiful silver thread. It brushed against his cheek.

Wait, silver--.

At the same time, his body floated up.
With a loud, eerie sound and intense heat, the destructive energy passed beneath Ciaran's feet.

I am--.

Ciaran was in the sky.
Silver eyes smiling.

"Sorry I'm late, Ciaran. Things settled down, so I was finally able to come."

"Silgar!"

Silgar was flying while carrying Ciaran.

"Thank you, Silgar. I'm glad you're safe--"

"Barely. Even though he was a servant, he was quite a formidable foe."

Hearing that things had settled down, Ciaran looked down at the ground. From the sky, he could see the three fallen Akakuchiba. And a little further away, he could see a figure that looked like Kuroretsumaru, also fallen. It seemed that due to the direct hit from Onyx's shockwave earlier, Kuroretsumaru had been blown to where Akakuchiba had fallen.

"What about Shirogane and Kuroha?"

Ciaran asked in a hurry.

"They are severely exhausted. Fighting will be difficult for them. But they are safe."

"Thank goodness--"

Akakuchiba and Kuroretsumaru do not move.

The enemy is now only Onyx...!

Just as Ciaran braced himself once more, a loud explosion echoed from the ground.

“I tried doing that ‘human charm’ you taught me, Ciaran-oniichan!”

Citrine’s shout. The shockwave Citrine had aimed with a calm heart was released toward Onyx. Unfortunately, however, Onyx dodged it just before it could hit.

“Silgar, please! Take me to Onyx!”

“Of course. But don’t be hasty.”

As he turned his gaze toward Onyx on the ground, the snow behind Onyx split open, and a large shadow appeared.

“Midori!”

Midori was throwing a punch at Onyx. Onyx dodged it and, while still holding the two of them, unleashed a kick at Midori. Midori was sent flying back, but immediately started running again.
Midori reached out, trying to free Freya and Amalia.

“Midori, run!”

Citrine’s voice. Midori dove into the ground. Onyx’s shockwave tore through the spot where Midori had been.
Onyx continued to hold onto Freya and Amalia. From high above, it was hard to tell how the two of them were doing—whether they were safe or not.

I will defeat Onyx with my own hands...!

“Silgar, I want to save Amalia-san and Freya-san quickly. Please, hurry—”

It was then that Ciaran made his request to Silgar.

“Ciaran.”

Aster’s voice reached Ciaran’s ears once again.

“Oh?”

Silgar was looking up at the sky.

Huh...

It was strange. Something like gold dust, not snow, was glittering as it fell.

This is...

"I have never seen this before either."

Silgar muttered. Golden dust rained down. I could not tell if it was something actually visible to the eye or something perceived through a special sense.

"What on earth is this..."

"So this is what it means for the window of the sky to open."

Kieran gasped at Silgar's words and cast his gaze down to his own hands.

Astel!

The Sword of the Heavenly Wind was emitting a golden light.
At last, the window of the sky was about to open.

◆Works published on Shousetsuka ni Narou, pixiv, AlphaPolis, and TSUKIKURU◆